Espontoon

/ɛsˈpɒnˌtuːn/ noun

Definition

An alternative spelling of esponton, referring to the same short pike or halberd weapon used by military officers.

Etymology

Variant spelling of esponton, from the same Romance language roots. The double 'o' variant appears in English texts from the 17th-18th centuries as spelling conventions varied.

Kelly Says

Espontoon shows how English borrowed weapons from other languages before settling on standard spellings—soldiers were using these stabbing spears while English writers were still figuring out what to call them!

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