Poniard

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpÉ’njÉ™d/, /ˈpÉ’njɑːd/

Alternative forms

• poignard
• poynard

Origin

From Middle French poignard, from poing ("fist"), from Old French, from Latin pūgnus ("fist"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peuk-.

Full definition of poniard

Noun

1. (now chiefly historical) A dagger typically having a slender square or triangular blade.
• 1599, William Shakespeare, ,She speaks poniards, and every word stabs: if her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her; she would infect to the north star.
• c. 1601, William Shakespeare, , V.1:The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary horses,
  against the which he impon'd as I take it, sixe French
  Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes, as Girdle,
  Hangers or so ....
• 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.29:A Poynard is more sure to wound a man, which forsomuch as it requireth more motion and vigor of the arme, than a pistol, it's stroke is more subject to be hindred or avoyded.

Verb

1. To stab with a poniard.

Related terms

• impugn
• pugilism
• pugnacious
• repugn (repugnant)