| 释义 |
ˈswordman Now rare or Obs. (replaced by swordsman).
Pl. -men.
[f. sword n. + man n.1]
1. A man who uses or fights with a sword; a gladiator; one skilled in, or addicted to, using a sword; spec. one skilled in fencing: = swordsman 1.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 23 Þat swerdman was i. slawe. c1440Promp. Parv. 483/1 Swerde man, or he þat vsythe a swerde, gladiator. 14..Gest of Robyn Hode clxix. in Child Ballads (1888) III. 64/2 Thou art one of the best sworde-men That euer yit sawe I. 1500Ortus Vocab., Gladiator, a swerd mane. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. Ad Sect. xii. 58 Peter was the boldest of the twelve, and a good Sword-man. 1652Nicholas Papers (Camden) 290 It is here said your favourite Dr. Froissard is become of late a quarrelsome sword-man. 1670Milton Hist. Eng. iv. Wks. 1851 V. 148 Cuichelm..sent privily Eumerus a hir'd Sword-man to assassin him. 1692Sir W. Hope Fencing-Master (ed 2.) 164, I have given you the Directions to make you a Sword-Man. 1728D. McBane (title) The Expert Sword-Man's Companion: or the True Art of Self-Defence.
b. A soldier who fights with a sword; one of a body of troops armed with swords; hence, an armed follower.
c1400Laud Troy Bk. 16673 The speremen ride, the bowemen schote,..The swordmen smyte & strokes ȝeue. 1422Yonge tr. Secr. Secr. 215 In the ryght hande of thyne enemys, the Swerde mene; In the lyfte hande, the Iusters wyth Speris. 1610Cal. St. Papers Irel. (1874) 416 It is to be wished that the swordmen, not only of Ulster but of Connaught, were transmitted upon this occasion to Swethen or Virginia. 1612Sir J. Davies Why Ireland, etc. (1787) 35 They and all their sword-men should clearly relinquish..unto the King..all their lands..which they held in Leinster. 1617Moryson Itin. ii. 100 Two things remained to settle the Kingdome. First the ridding Ireland of the Swordmen. 1632Star Chamber Cases (Camden) 113 There were manie accusacions against Hugh Erswicke and his sword-man. 1669–70R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 468 The sword men are discontented to hear they are not likely to be employed for a year at least.
2. A man ‘of the sword’; a warrior, military man, fighter, soldier. Also fig.
1601Shakes. All's Well ii. i. 62 Worthy fellowes, and like to prooue most sinewie sword-men [printed -man]. 1621–31Laud Serm. (1847) 13 David was a swordman with a witness:—one of the greatest warriors that ever was. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. ii. §26 The Earl of Essex..the most Popular man of the Kingdom, and the Darling of the Sword⁓men. 1651Howell Venice 188 How much it did misbecom Bishops..who make profession of a life differing from Sword-men, to change the Crosier into Musket rests. 1668R. L'Estrange Vis. Quev. (1708) 73 Sword-Men; As Generals of Armies, Captains, Lieutenants, Common Soldiers. 1679C. Nesse Antichrist 39 His sworn swordmen the jesuits. 1708J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. iii. iv. (1710) 190 This..Degree [of Knight Batchelor]..was..bestowed upon Gown-Men, contrary to the nature of the thing (as Degrees in the Universities are sometimes bestowed on Sword-men). [1900Morley Cromwell v. iv. 413 Such an innovation should be a warning not to vote for swordmen nor for the Protector's friends.]
Hence swordmanship = swordsmanship.
1781Cowper Charity 509 No skill in swordmanship, however just, Can be secure against a madman's thrust. |