A blade is the flat, sharp part of a tool, knife, or weapon that is used for cutting. It can also refer to flat parts that slice through air or liquid, like the blades of a fan or propeller.
From Old English “blæd,” meaning “leaf” or “flat piece,” related to words for flat, broad shapes. Over time, the meaning narrowed to sharp, flat cutting edges.
The same root that gave us “blade” also gave us the idea of a leaf—both are thin, flat surfaces. Humans have spent thousands of years perfecting blades because a better edge can mean better food, tools, and survival.
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