once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor
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The Falls at Willow Creek Apartments were on lockdown as SWAT negotiated with the suspect, who was armed with a knife and sword, according to the Folsom Police Department.—Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026 From fire irons to swords, guns to clothes airers, Nesbø — who wrote the screenplay himself — finds a myriad ways to dispatch his unlucky victims, a significant number of whom also lose limbs before bleeding out.—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026 The splendid Nezu Museum houses a collection of Asian art and antiquities ranging from paintings to samurai swords, with a traditional tea room and beautiful grounds to explore, too.—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026 With nods to films of the samurai and shoot-em-up genres, Beetz gives the physical performance of a lifetime, wielding swords and firing guns at a building full of evil yuppies.—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sword
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swert sword
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of sword was
before the 12th century