What is "shotel"

n. An Abyssinian curved blade similar to the scimitar.

A shotel is a curved sword originating in Abyssinia (ancient Ethiopia). It looks very much like the Near Eastern scimitars. The curve on the shotel's blade varies from the Persian shamshir, adopting an almost semicircular shape. The blade is flat and double-edged with a diamond cross-section. The blade is about in total length and the hilt is a simple wooden piece with no guard. The shotel was carried in a close fitting leather scabbard.