saber

/ˈseɪbər/

/ˈseɪbə/

Other forms: sabers; sabered; sabering

A saber is an old fashioned sword with a curved blade. Sabers were used in many historic battles, including the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.

The saber is usually described as a "cavalry sword," or a weapon carried by a soldier on horseback. As guns became more common during wartime, cavalry troops armed with sabers became less and less typical. The word saber comes from the French sabre, "heavy, curved sword," Säbel in German and szablya in Hungarian, from the root szabni, "to cut."

Definitions of saber

1. noun

   a stout sword with a curved blade and thick back
   synonyms: cavalry sword, sabre

   types:

   scimitar

   a curved saber used in Eastern countries; the edge is on the convex side of the blade

   type of:

   blade, brand, steel, sword

   a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
2. noun

   a fencing sword with a v-shaped blade and a slightly curved handle
   synonyms: sabre

   type of:

   fencing sword

   a sword used in the sport of fencing
3. verb

   cut or injure with a saber
   synonyms: sabre

   type of:

   cut

   separate with or as if with an instrument
4. verb

   kill with a saber
   synonyms: sabre

   type of:

   kill

   cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly