Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

scimitar

/ˈsɪmɪtə/ noun

In Latin: acīnacēs, cymithārra First recorded: 1548 Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about scimitar at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A sword of Persian origin that features a curved blade.
A long-handled billhook.

verb

To strike or slice with, or as if with, a scimitar.

Origin

First attested in 1548. From Middle French cimeterre (15c.) or directly from Italian scimitarra, possibly from an unknown Ottoman Turkish word, ultimately from Classical Persian شمشیر (šamšēr, “sword”). Doublet of shamshir.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word