A medieval weapon consisting of a large blade attached to a long pole, used for slashing and thrusting in battle.
From Old French 'glaive,' derived from Latin 'gladius' meaning 'sword.' The word entered English during the medieval period when such weapons were common in warfare, and the meaning shifted from a simple sword to the specialized polearm.
Medieval soldiers loved glaives because one weapon could slash like a sword AND thrust like a spear—it was basically the Swiss Army knife of the medieval battlefield, giving warriors incredible versatility without carrying multiple weapons.
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