poniard

plural poniards · alternative poignard · alternative poinard · alternative poynard · alternative punierd

1. historicalA dagger typically having a slender square or triangular blade.First known use 16th c.

   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

   5 more examples

   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]

   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

   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

   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 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

present singular third person poniards · participle present poniarding · participle past poniarded · past poniarded · alternative poignard · alternative poinard · alternative poynard · alternative punierd

1. To stab with a poniard.

   Manfred […] would have poignarded the peasant in their arms.

   1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, section I