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n. A weapon of the 1400s and 1500s having an axelike blade and a steel spike mounted on the end of a long shaft. [French hallebarde, from Old French alabarde, from Old Italian alabarda, from Middle High German helmbarde, halmbarte : helm, handle + barte, axe (from Old High German barta; see bhardh-ā- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] hal′ber·dier (-bər-dîr) n. |
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