Sica
/ˈsiːkə/noun
A short, curved dagger or sword, especially one associated with ancient Thracian, Illyrian, or Roman use.
Did you know?The Latin *sica* is the source of *sicarius* (“dagger-man,” later “assassin”), a word tied in Roman law to murder and political terror.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sek-
“to cut”
Proto-Italic
PI
*sikā
“a cutting weapon or knife”
Classical Latin
Latin
sica
“a curved dagger or short sword”
Late Latin
Latin
sicarius
“a dagger-man; an assassin”
Old Spanish
Spanish
sicario
“an assassin or hired killer”
Modern English
English
sica
“a short curved dagger, especially in ancient contexts”