gladius

Definition

A Roman sword roughly two feet long.

Etymology

From Latin gladius (“Roman short sword, gladius”). Doublet of glaive.

Example Sentences

• "Finally, the Romans made the gladius—sharp, of highly-tempered steel, and strongly piercing—the first real sword (Figs. 17, 18, 19), of which only five specimens are now known to exist."
• "The gladius was effective either for cutting or for thrusting and was used by legionaries and auxiliaries."
• "From the Cretaceous of North America fossilised gladii in the enigmatic genus Tusoteuthis have been estimated to give a mantle length (body size) of 1.8m, just less than that of the giant squid’s."