tulwar

English

an 19th century tulwar

Alternative forms

• talwar, tulwaur

Etymology

From Hindi तलवार (talvār).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtʌlwɑː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈtʌlwɑɹ/

Noun

tulwar (plural tulwars)

1. A type of curved sword used in India and throughout South Asia.
   • 1863, George Smith, William Makepeace Thackeray (editors), The Cornhill Magazine, Volume 7, George Smith, page 42,

     Each man carries a tulwar,‡ as well as either a carabine or lance, besides sometimes on the day of battle, pistol and dagger. In the matter of slinging the tulwar, a useful hint is afforded to our dragoon officers.

   • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘At Howli Thana’, Black and White, Folio Society, published 2005, page 388:

     Therefore, the Havildar, taking his tulwar, smote one of us lightly on the forearm in the fat, and another on the leg, and a third on the back of the hand.

   • 1888, Charles MacGregor, Charlotte Mary Jardine MacGregor (editor), The Life and Opinions of Major-General Sir Charles Metcalfe MacGregor, Volume 1, William Blackwood and Sons, page 64,

     As I was not prepared for him (my back being partly turned to speak to my man), he was on me before I knew where I was, and had given me a cut on the head with his tulwar.

Hypernyms

• scimitar

Translations

sword

• Japanese: タルワール (taruwāru)