poniard en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈpɒnjɑːd/ (UK)
- /ˈpɒnjəd/ (UK)
- /ˈpɑnjɚd/ (General-American)
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French poignard (whence -ard), from poing (“fist”), from Old French poing, from Latin pugnus (“fist”).
Meanings
-
(historical) A dagger typically having a slender square or triangular blade.
On this occasion I said nothing, but concealing his poniard in my clothes, I hasted up the mountain, determined to execute my purpose […].
1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner:The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary horses, / against the which he impon'd as I take it, sixe French / Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes, as Girdle, / Hangers or so[…].
c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:The gaunt men carried swords and daggers with a new familiarity, and even the women had poniards belted at their waists.
2003, Christopher Paolini, “Dragon Tales”, in Eragon, pages 22-23:A Poynard is more sure to wound a man, which forsomuch as it requireth more motion and vigor of the arme, than a pistol, it's stroke is more subject to be hindred or avoyded.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 29, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:One of the tragic authors, finding himself assaulted in the dark, had, by way of poinard, employed upon his adversary's throat a knife which lay upon the table, for the convenience of cutting cheese […].
1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter 101, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume IV, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:You yeoman phevvterer, conduct mee to / The Lady of the manſion, or my poniard / Shall diſemboge thy ſoule.
c. 1621–1623 (date written), Philip Massinger, The Maid of Honour. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1632, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, signatures D2, verso – D3, recto:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| poinard | alternative | lexicographic | |
| punierd | alternative | lexicographic | |
| poynard | alternative | lexicographic | |
| poignard | alternative | lexicographic | |
| poniards | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (19)
fr poignard (dagger) · nl knijf (dagger) · io poniardo (dagger) · ru кинжа́л (dagger) · it pugnale (dagger) · fa شوشکه (dagger) · la sīca (dagger) · ota قامه (dagger) · pl sztylet (dagger) · ota دشنه (dagger) · gl puñal (dagger) · eo ponardo (dagger) · pt punhal (dagger) · bg кама́ (dagger) · es puñal (dagger) · bg кинжа́л (dagger) · nl ponjaard (dagger) · nb dolk (dagger) · ota خنجر (dagger)