Definition of halberd

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hal·berd    (hlbrd, hôl-) KEY  also hal·bert  (-brt) KEY 

NOUN:

A weapon of the 15th and 16th centuries having an axlike blade and a steel spike mounted on the end of a long shaft.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French hallebarde, from Old French alabarde, from Old Italian alabarda, from Middle High German helmbarde, halmbarte : helm, handle + barte, ax (from Old High German barta; see bhardh-- in Indo-European roots)

OTHER FORMS:
halber·dier  (-br-dîr) KEY (Noun)