spontoon

noun

spon·toon spän-ˈtün

: a short pike formerly borne by subordinate officers of infantry

Word History

Etymology

French sponton, from Italian spuntone, from punta sharp point, from Vulgar Latin *puncta — more at point

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of spontoon was in 1598

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Spontoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spontoon. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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