Wiktionary
n. A sword of a kind used in mediaeval Europe for hewing, thrusting and slicing. It is well suited to two-handed use in combat, but some can also be used in one hand.
Wikipedia
A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for two-handed use (around ) and a straight double-edged blade of around , The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihänder. It was prevalent during the late medieval and Renaissance periods (approximately 1350 to 1550), with early and late use reaching into the 13th and 17th centuries.
The term longsword refers to different kinds of sword depending on historical context:
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Longsword, a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands
- Estoc, a French and English sword designed for piercing armour
- Spatha, a Roman and early Medieval sword which is 'long' compared to the Seax and the Gladius
- Zweihänder, a late Renaissance sword of the 16th century Landsknechts, the longest sword of all
- the Rapier
- Katana (大刀 daitō, Odachi, Nodachi) is sometimes translated from the Japanese language as longsword
People called "Longsword":
- William I, Duke of Normandy (d. 942)
- William of Winchester, surnamed Longaspatha or Longsword (d. 1213)
- William Longsword, Earl of Salisbury (d. 1226)
- William VII, Marquess of Montferrat, called Spadalunga or "Longsword" (d. 1292)
Usage examples of "longsword".
He leaned to his left, barely avoiding the meat-strewn fangs, and swung a wild backhand slash with his longsword as he rode past.
He had a longsword at his hip, a dagger at his belt, and the hilts of two more daggers sprouted from his boot tops.
Sabinus and walked a few paces forward, holding his longsword in front of him, its tip pointing at the ground.
A battered longsword was held in each hand, the one on the left bent by a wild swing that had struck a marble column two nights past.
A light, narrow-bladed longsword, its point long and tapering, scabbarded in pale wood.
For some reason, the thought of using a true longsword did not appeal to him.
Paks took the opportunity to begin learning longsword, and collected a whole new set of cuts and bruises.
Stanwin pressed through the crowd, hatless, clothes torn, bloody longsword in hand.
Two were well armoured and helmed, cradling heavy crossbows, longswords belted at their hips, positioned at the entrance to the cul de sac and watching the trail.
These were heavy infantry, thirty soldiers in all, loaded down in scale armour and chain vambraces and gauntlets, kite shields, weighted longswords, stabbing spears strapped to their backs, visored and cheek-guarded helms with lobster tails, dirks and pig-stickers at their belts.
Now that she was out of the Duke's colors, in rough brown pants and shirt with a pack on her back and a longsword at side, she heard no more of the catcalls that bothered her so.
Barodahn carried the daggered axe of his clan's traditionalists upon his back, and Thankhar's hand was hooked nonchalantly into his belt, inches from the hilt of his longsword.
A plain officer's longsword stood in its rack by the door, a single-edged weapon with a brass basket hilt.
His uniform still bore its maker's chalk lines, and the leather grip of his longsword showed not a single sweatstain.
In place of the longsword the others carried, blond-bearded Sludig had two notch-bladed hand axes thrust in his belt.