A medieval dagger or short sword with a broad blade, typically worn at the waist and used as a weapon or tool.
From Middle English anelace, possibly from Old French anal or a derivative. The exact origin is uncertain, though some scholars suggest it may come from a place name or be of Germanic origin. Used particularly in the 14th-15th centuries.
The anelace appears in the archaeological record and medieval art more often than most people realize—it was the practical tool of merchants, soldiers, and common folk, less glamorous than the broadsword but probably used more often for actual daily purposes.
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