Poignard

Poignard

A poignard in the collection of Thinktank museum, Birmingham, England
Type Dagger
Specifications
Blade type Double-edged,
straight bladed

Poignard, or poniard, (Fr.), refers to a long, lightweight thrusting knife with a continuously tapering, acutely pointed blade and crossguard, historically worn by the upper class, noblemen, or the knighthood. Similar in design to a parrying dagger, the poignard emerged during the Middle Ages and was used during the Renaissance in Western Europe, particularly in France, Switzerland, and Italy.[1][2]

Modern usage

In modern French, the term poignard has come to be defined as synonymous with dague, the general term for "dagger",[3] and in English the term poignard or poniard has gradually evolved into a term for any small, slender dagger.[4]

The Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife may be thought of as a modern version of the poignard.

Jean-Paul Marat (a.k.a. Jean Paulgnard) was murdered in his bathtub by Charlotte Corday, a Girondist sympathizer, with a poignard (hence the name) during the French Revolution.

References

  1. "Brass-hilted Poignard". Ancient Edge. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
  2. Daggers
  3. Définition Poignard
  4. Poniard, Dictionary.com
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