Glaive
/ɡleɪv/noun
A pole weapon with a single-edged blade, historically used in medieval Europe.
Did you know?The English word ultimately comes through Old French from a Latin term for a sword, and in medieval French and Latin texts it could mean a sword, spear, or weapon in general rather than one fixed blade.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ghel-
“A root meaning to shine or be bright, which underlies Latin words for gleam and yellow, not the weapon itself.”
Latin
Latin
gladius
“A sword.”
Late Latin
Latin
glavia / gladius
“A sword or blade; forms and spellings varied in later Latin and Romance usage.”
Old French
Old French
glaive
“A sword or weapon, especially a blade or spear-like arm.”
Middle English
English
glaive
“A sword or spear; later specifically a type of polearm.”
Modern English
English
glaive
“A pole weapon with a single-edged blade.”