Medieval Glossary

Halberd

A polearm with both a rectangular blade and a spike mounted on top of its approximately six to seven-foot haft. This was surmounted by an instrument much resembling a bill-hook, constructed alike for cutting and thrusting. It also had a cross-piece of steel, less sharp, for the purpose of pushing, and one end of this cross-piece was turned down as a hook for use in tearing down that against which an attack was made. Eventually, a spike would also be added to the bottom of the haft.

Related term(s): Halbert; Polearm; Haft; Bill-hook; Bill; Gisarme
Category: Weapons
Added: 07.04.04
Last modified: 10.07.05
Source information: Wilhelm, Thomas. A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer. Philadelphia: L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1881. 212; Wise, Terrence. Medieval Warfare. New York: Hastings House Publishers, Inc., 1976. 82.

Browse

Browse by medieval glossary category:
Agriculture (26)Architecture (19)Armour and Shields (130)Arts and Literature (4)Buildings, Goods, and Materials (35)Castles and Fortifications (148)Clothing (28)Dynasties and Groups (19)Eastern Christianity (3)Feudalism (41)Food and Drink (11)Government and Law (89)Heraldry (68)Islam (6)Knighthood and Chivalry (43)Military - General (108)Occupations and Positions (25)Places (5)Siege Weapons and Artillery (17)Society (71)Trade and Coinage (14)Troop Types (21)Universities and Education (7)Village, Town, and City (9)Weapons (88)Weights and Measures (50)Western Christianity (132)
*Numbers in parantheses indicate the number of terms in the medieval glossary category

List medieval glossary terms alphabetically:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Enter an exact medieval glossary term to look up: