Plural of cutlass; short, curved swords that were especially popular with sailors and pirates.
From French 'coutelas' or Spanish 'cutela', derived from Latin 'cultellus' (small knife). The weapon emerged in maritime contexts during the 16th-17th centuries when curved blades proved practical on ship decks.
Pirates and sailors loved cutlasses because they were short enough to swing in tight ship quarters but heavy enough to split wood and bone—they're essentially the medieval equivalent of a combat knife designed for close-quarters naval warfare.
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