battle-sharp

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English

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Etymology

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From battle +‎ sharp, perhaps as a partial calque of Old English beadusċearp.

Adjective

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battle-sharp (comparative more battle-sharp, superlative most battle-sharp)

  1. (rare) Sharp for use in battle or fighting.
    • 1834, The Tale of Beowulf, page 70:
      The bitter and battle-sharp, borne on his byrny;
      Asunder the Weder's helm smote the Worm midmost;
      They felled the fiend, and force drave the life out,
      And they twain together had gotten him ending,
      Those athelings sib.
    • 2013, David Kirk, Child of Vengeance:
      It was calming. Kazuteru worked quickly, his sword still battle-sharp cutting through the clotted mess of flesh with ease.
    • 2019, Martin Middlebrook, Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle:
      The division was a keen, well-rested force eager for action, although the long wait in England and the many cancellations had created a degree of staleness, so the division was not battle-sharp.