Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
breaking it off short at the haft
English answer:
breaking his (sword, dagger, etc.) off at the hilt
Added to glossary by
Tony M
May 27, 2012 15:50
12 yrs ago
English term
SHORT OFF AT THE HAFT
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Fire from the flint is our Chevalier enraged. He takes umbrage at the
cut of some ship's keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a
tilt at it; with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean
through and through; not seldom breaking it SHORT OFF AT THE HAFT,
like a bravo leaving his poignard in the vitals of his foe.
Thank you!
cut of some ship's keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a
tilt at it; with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean
through and through; not seldom breaking it SHORT OFF AT THE HAFT,
like a bravo leaving his poignard in the vitals of his foe.
Thank you!
Change log
May 27, 2012 15:50: changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"
Jun 1, 2012 19:57: Tony M Created KOG entry
Responses
+2
6 mins
English term (edited):
breaking it short off at the haft
Selected
breaking his (sword, dagger, etc.) off at the hilt
haft [NS OED]
The handle of a cutting or piercing instrument, as a knife, spear, etc.; the hilt of a sword, dagger, etc.
It means he used such force that he broke his weapon, presumably separating the blade from the handle.
The handle of a cutting or piercing instrument, as a knife, spear, etc.; the hilt of a sword, dagger, etc.
It means he used such force that he broke his weapon, presumably separating the blade from the handle.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
katsy
: you beat me to it Tony! But I'll leave my answer for the reference it contains!
5 mins
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Thanks, Katsy! :-)
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| agree |
Sheila Wilson
2 hrs
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Thanks, Sheila!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
7 mins
breaks his 'sword', so it is very short, separating the blade and teh handle
The Chevalier ( a swordfish) tries to attack a ship. He tries to strike the ship, but (of course ) breaks his sword
http://www.online-literature.com/melville/mardi-vol1/32/
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Note added at 21 mins (2012-05-27 16:11:26 GMT)
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Just a bit of extra info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Ferrara
The term came to be used generically as a term for the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword. Sir Walter Scott notes that the name of Andrea de Ferrara was inscribed "on all the Scottish broadswords that are accounted of peculiar excellence
http://www.online-literature.com/melville/mardi-vol1/32/
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Note added at 21 mins (2012-05-27 16:11:26 GMT)
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Just a bit of extra info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Ferrara
The term came to be used generically as a term for the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword. Sir Walter Scott notes that the name of Andrea de Ferrara was inscribed "on all the Scottish broadswords that are accounted of peculiar excellence
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: Right, now we know it is a swordfish, suddenly everything becoems clear!
5 mins
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thanks Tony :-)
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| agree |
Sheila Wilson
: Swordfish? Do they have either a haft or a hilt? Anyway, it's at the blunt end
2 hrs
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Thanks Sheila :-) Sounds like M. Python, doesn't it! it's Herman Melville - check out link - a long word game - the swordfish is described as having a sword (whatever its "nose" is called)... I'd have said hilt, but who am I to contradict Melville?
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Discussion
In modern syntax, we'd probably say 'breaking it off short'.