sword-breaker

English

Schematics of a 17th-century sword-breaker.

Noun

sword-breaker (plural sword-breakers)

1. A short sword or dagger with a deeply notched or toothed blade, or with secondary projections, designed to catch or grapple an opponent's weapon.
   • 1884, Richard F[rancis] Burton, “The Sword: What is It?”, in The Book of the Sword, London: Chatto and Windus, […], →OCLC, page 138:

     The deepest indentations are in the so-called Sword-breakers (brise-épées), mostly of the fifteenth century.

2. (uncommon) A notch or projection on a dagger, etc., designed to catch an opponent's weapon.
   • 1904, Guy Francis Laking, The Armoury of Windsor Castle: European Section, page 32:

     The dagger has the triangular knuckle-guard peculiar to the period, also straight quillons, fluted pommel and similar grip; the blade is 18 in. long, 2 in. wide at the hilt, where it is furnished with two sword-breakers.

Alternative forms

• swordbreaker, sword breaker