subs. (military).—A sword.

1

  ENGLISH SYNONYMS.  Toasting-fork; toasting iron; sharp; knitting-needle; iron; cheese-knife; toll; poker.

2

  FRENCH SYNONYMS.  Un astic (thieves’: from the German Stich); l’aiguille à tricoter les côtes (military: l’aiguille à tricoter = knitting-needle, côtes = ribs); l’entrecôte (popular); un charlemagne (military; a bayonet-sabre); un Bon-Dieu (military); une curette (military: a cavalry sword, as also is un bancal); une côte de bœuf (thieves’); un grand couteau (military: a cavalry sword. Literally ‘a large knife’); un fauchon (popular); un fauchon de satou (a wooden sword); une gaudille or gandille; Joyeuse (the name of the sword of Charlemagne); une flambe or flamberge (the sword of Roland); une paille de fer (= cold steel); une latte (a cavalry sword); une lardoire (popular).

3

  GERMAN SYNONYM.  Michel (from the Hebrew michael, an executioner’s sword; also Langmichel).

4

  ITALIAN SYNONYM.  Martina.

5

  SPANISH SYNONYMS.  Fisberta; centella (literally ‘spark,’ ‘thunder,’ ‘lightning’); respeto (properly ‘respect’); garrancha; durindana.

6

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. CHEESE TOASTER, a sword.

7

  1857–59.  THACKERAY, The Virginians, x. I’ll drive my CHEESE-TOASTER through his body.

8