the short sword traditionally carried by Sikhs as a symbol of their religious and cultural loyalty, symbolizing protection for the weak
See also five Ks
Word origin
Punjabi kirpān
kirpan in American English
(kɪrˈpɑːn)
noun
a small dagger worn by orthodox Sikhs
Word origin
[1900–05; ‹ Punjabi and Hindi ‹ Skt kṛpāṇa sword]This word is first recorded in the period 1900–05. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cathode-ray tube, desensitize, elder statesman, hormone, hydroplane