Shortsword

The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise, and has varied widely over time. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification, or terminology of swords; a sword was simply called "sword" in whatever language the swordsmen spoke.

Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (i.e. "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", "short-sword", "bastard sword", "great sword", "full-bladed sword", "side-sword", "dual-bladed sword", "hand and a half sword" and "two-handed sword") were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology, often by describing their size or shape relative to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings.

Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. Others are modern or early modern terms used by antiquarians, curators, and modern-day sword enthusiasts for historical swords.

Terminology was further complicated by terms introduced or misinterpreted in the 19th century by antiquarians and in 20th century pop culture, and by the addition of new terms such as "great sword", "Zweihänder" (instead of Bidenhänder), and "cut-and-thrust sword". Historical European Martial Arts associations have turned the term spada da lato into "side-sword". Furthermore, there is a deprecation of the term broadsword by these associations. All these newly introduced or redefined sword terms add to the confusion of the matter.

The most well-known systematic typology of blade types of the European medieval sword is the Oakeshott typology, although this is also a modern classification and not a medieval one. Elizabethans used descriptive terms such as "short", "bastard", and "long" which emphasized the length of the blade, and "two-handed" for any sword that could be wielded by two hands.

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