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3. Destruction by the sword, or in battle; war; dissension.
I came not to send peace, but a sword. Matt. x. 34. 4. The military power of a country.
He hath no more authority over the sword than over the law. Milton. 5. (Weaving) One of the end bars by which the lay of a hand loom is suspended.
Sword arm, the right arm. — Sword bayonet, a bayonet shaped somewhat like a sword, and which
can be used as a sword. — Sword bearer, one who carries his master's sword; an officer in London
who carries a sword before the lord mayor when he goes abroad. — Sword belt, a belt by which a
sword is suspended, and borne at the side. — Sword blade, the blade, or cutting part, of a sword. —
Sword cane, a cane which conceals the blade of a sword or dagger, as in a sheath. — Sword dance.
(a) A dance in which swords are brandished and clashed together by the male dancers. Sir W. Scott.
(b) A dance performed over swords laid on the ground, but without touching them. — Sword fight,
fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords; swordplay. — Sword grass. (Bot.) See Gladen. — Sword
knot, a ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword. — Sword law, government by the sword, or by force; violence.
Milton. — Sword lily. (Bot.) See Gladiolus. — Sword mat (Naut.), a mat closely woven of yarns; —
so called from a wooden implement used in its manufacture. — Sword shrimp (Zoöl.), a European
shrimp (Pasiphæa sivado) having a very thin, compressed body. — Sword stick, a sword cane. — To
measure swords with one. See under Measure, v. t. — To put to the sword. See under Put.
Swordbill
(Sword"bill`) n. (Zoöl.) A humming bird (Docimastes ensiferus) having a very long, slender
bill, exceeding the length of the body of the bird.
Sworded
(Sword"ed), a. [Cf. AS. geswurdod.] Girded with a sword. Milton.
Sworder
(Sword"er) n. One who uses, or fights with, a sword; a swordsman; a soldier; a cutthroat. [Obs.]
Shak.
Swordfish
(Sword"fish`) n.
1. (Zoöl.) (a) A very large oceanic fish the only representative of the family Xiphiidæ. It is highly valued
as a food fish. The bones of the upper jaw are consolidated, and form a long, rigid, swordlike beak; the
dorsal fin is high and without distinct spines; the ventral fins are absent. The adult is destitute of teeth. It
becomes sixteen feet or more long. (b) The gar pike. (c) The cutlass fish.
2. (Astron.) A southern constellation. See Dorado, 1.
Swordfish sucker (Zoöl.), a remora (Remora brachyptera) which attaches itself to the swordfish.
Swordick
(Sword"ick) n. (Zoöl.) The spotted gunnel [Prov. Eng.]
Swording
(Sword"ing) n. Slashing with a sword. Tennyson.
Swordless
(Sword"less) a. Destitute of a sword.
Swordman
(Sword"man) n.; pl. Swordmen A swordsman. "Sinewy swordmen." Shak.
Swordplay
(Sword"play`) n. Fencing; a sword fight.
Swordplayer
(Sword"play`er) n. A fencer; a gladiator; one who exhibits his skill in the use of the sword.
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