Glossary
This page provides a glossary of commonly used terminology used of Roman military equipment, broken down according to category. Selecting a category heading opens it up to reveal the terms within.
Archery, Body armour (lorica/catafracta), Dagger (pugio), Horse armour, Horse harness, Limb armour (manica, ocrea), Pilum, Scabbard/sheath (vagina), Sling (funda), Spear/javelin (hasta/lancea), Sword (gladius, spatha)
Archery
Arrow (sagitta) – Missile shot from a bow, including the arrow head, stele, fletchings, and nock.
Arrow head – The metal tip of an arrow attached to the stele.
Bow (arcus) – In the Roman period, either a composite bow or a self bow.
Bow case (gorytus) – Container for a bow offering protection from the elements.
Bow string (nervus) – Strung between the ends of a bow.
Composite bow – Bow made from a range of components including wood, sinew, and horn, antler, or bone.
Ear lath – Shaped piece of antler or bone acting as levers at either end of a composite bow.
Fire arrow (malleolus) – Arrow with an openwork arrow head designed to hold burning material.
Fletchings (penna) – Vanes, usually of feather, inserted into the stele and providing directional stability in flight.
Grip lath – Shaped piece of antler or bone acting as a grip in the centre of a composite bow.
Nock – Notch in the end of the stele into which the bow string was placed.
Quiver (pharetra) – Container for arrows, usually cylindrical, worn by an archer on his back or from a waist belt.
Self bow – Simple wooden bow like a long bow.
Stele – Wooden shaft of an arrow, to which the arrow head and fletchings are attached, with the nock in its end.
Thumb ring – Used by an archer using the Mongolian release.
Artillery (tormentum)
Arm (bracchium) – Lever attached to the spring and holding the bowstring.
Ball – Stone projectile of varying sizes shot from stone-throwing weapons.
Ballista – Stone-throwing weapon, later also adopted for bolt-shooters.
Bar – Component slotted into the top of a washer or cylinder around which the spring is looped.
Bolt – Dart-like projectile, shot from a bolt-throwing weapon, and consisting of the bolt head, shaft, and (sometimes) vanes or flights.
Bolt head – Ferrous component of the bolt, comprising the pyramidal head, shank, and socket or tang.
Bow string – Stretched between the end of the arms to shoot the projectile along the slider.
Case – Main body of the weapon, comprising the ladder and table, upon which the slider is mounted and to which the universal joint, winch, and trigger are attached.
Catapulta – Bolt-shooting weapon.
Cylinder – See washer.
Flight – Fin providing directional stability to a bolt.
Frame (capitulum) – Assembly containing the hole carriers, stanchions, and springs, attached to the case.
Hole-carrier – Upper or lower part of the frame holding the springs.
Ladder (climacis) – Sides and cross-pieces of the case which rests upon the table.
Onager – Single-armed stone-throwing weapon.
Projectile – Bolt or ball shot from the weapon.
Scorpio – See catapulta.
Shaft – Wooden component of a bolt, attached to the bolt head and with flights or vanes set into it.
Shield – Metal plate covering the front of the frame to provide some protection and which could be decorated.
Slider (canalis fundus) – Component mounted on the case used to draw back the arms.
Spring – Torsion device made from sinew or hair.
Spring-frame – See frame.
Stanchion (parastata) – Upright components of the frame separating the hole-carriers.
Stand – Base for the weapon, joined to the case with the universal joint.
Table (mensa) – Underside of the case upon which the ladder is situated.
Trigger (chele) – Means of releasing the bow string to shoot the weapon.
Universal joint (carchesium) – Joint between the case and the stand.
Vane – See flight.
Washer (modiolus) – Circular metal fitting attached to the exterior of the hole-carriers to which the bars are attached and through which the springs are looped.
Winch – Used to draw back the slider containing the projectile in the bowstring against the force of the springs in order to shoot.
Baldric
Phalera – Circular decorative fitting with a D-shaped loop that protruded through the strap/belt and to which its narrow end was tied, after passing around/through the scabbard.
Strap/belt – The leather component, from the 2nd century AD onwards broad at one and narrow at the other, which passed through the slide/runner on the scabbard on the left hip. Earlier, a simple strap, sometimes with studs, attached to the suspension loops on the scabbard on the right hip.
Stud – Decorative fitting, usually circular but occasionally shaped as e.g. a model beneficiarius standard, attached to the strap/belt.
Terminal pendant – Hinged pendant attached to the terminal plate.
Terminal plate – Plate attached to the broad end of the strap/belt.
Belt (balteus, cingulum)
Belt – Leather strap that passed around the waist and was secured with a buckle attached to one end.
Belt plate – Metal plaque attached to the leather of the belt by means of rivets (or integral shanks from the 2nd century AD onwards) and roves.
Buckle – A clasp (usually metal but sometimes bone or ivory) to secure one end of the belt to the other.
Buckle plate – Belt plate with an attached buckle, usually but not always hinged to it, either in the form of a hinged buckle or looped buckle.
Embossing – Raised decoration on a belt plate.
Frog – Attachment for a sword or dagger using a disc or button.
Frame buckle – Rectangular hingeless buckle through which both ends of the belt were passed and secured with fungiform studs.
Frog plate – Belt plate with an attached frog, usually but not always hinged to it either with a spindle or just a loop.
Fungiform stud – Stud with a circular head, often conical in form, a circular-sectioned shank, and a flat, circular discoidal foot.
Hinge – Articulated attachment between two items, such as a buckle and buckle plate.
Hinged buckle – Attached to a buckle plate using a hinge with a spindle.
Inlay – Decorative material inset into the surface of a belt plate, usually niello or enamel.
Looped buckle – Attached to a buckle plate by means of a loop on the buckle and protruding tongue on the plate.
Ring buckle – Circular hingeless buckle through which both ends of the belt were passed and secured with fungiform studs.
Rivet – A pin with a head used to fasten two items together, often peened over a rove.
Rove – A washer used in conjunction with a rivet.
Spindle/bar – Pin providing the means of articulation for a hinged buckle.
Tongue/pin – Hinged pin that passes through an aperture in the leather of the belt to secure it.
Body armour (lorica, catafracta)
Backing – Textile foundation for scale armour to which scales were attached as well as to each other.
Backplate – One of several plates on segmental armour covering the upper back and shoulder blades, six on early forms and just two later.
Breastplate – One of two plates on segmental armour covering the upper torso at the front.
Cuirass (lorica) – General term for a set of body armour.
Fastener – Fitting that served to attach the components of body armour.
Fittings – Items attached to a cuirass.
Girth hoop/plate – One of several plates on segmental armour that encompassed the lower torso
Hinged buckle fitting – Riveted to a breastplate and backplate to pair with a hinged strap fitting on a neighbouring plate.
Hinged strap fitting – Riveted to a breastplate and backplate to pair with a hinged buckle fitting on a neighbouring plate.
Hybrid armour – Made from small-ringed mail, usually copper-alloy, and small scales, either copper alloy or ferrous.
Internal leathering – Straps riveted to the interior of segmental armour plates by means of rivets and secured with roves.
Laminated armour – See segmental armour.
Lobate hinge – Hinge with lobed extensions riveted to, and used to join, the upper plates on segmental armour.
Lorica hamata – Renaissance term for a mail cuirass.
Lorica segmentata – Renaissance term for segmental armour.
Lorica squamata – Renaissance term for scale armour.
Mail – Defence made up of ferrous rings (hamae), in the Roman army a combination of riveted rings and stamped rings or (possibly) welded rings.
Plate – Shaped ferrous sheet, usually curved in one plane, employed to make segmental armour.
Plating/sheathing – Sometimes used to cover scales in scale armour, with copper-alloy sheet wrapped around ferrous scales.
Rivet – A pin with a head used to fasten two items together, often peened over a rove.
Riveted ring – Penannular ring of copper-alloy or, more often, ferrous wire flattened at both ends, overlapped and riveted together.
Rove – A washer used in conjunction with a rivet.
Scale (squama) – Small metal plate with punched holes around its periphery, either attached to its neighbours horizontally by wire and to a backing by stitching, or on all four sides by wire (semi-rigid scale)
Scale armour – Cuirass made from overlapping scales.
Segmental armour – Cuirass made from overlapping ferrous strips articulated on internal leathering.
Semi-rigid scale – type of cuirass where each scale is attached to its neighbours horizontally and vertically by wiring.
Shoulderguard – Either an upper shoulderguard (made up of three plates joined by lobate hinges) or a single-piece lesser shoulderguard.
Stamped ring – Ferrous ring stamped from a sheet.
Stitching – Means of attaching scales to their backing and edging to mail or scale armour.
Tie loop – Wrought fitting riveted to a girth hoop on earlier segmental armour to fasten the halves together with a leather tie.
Tie ring – Cast fitting attached to a girth hoop (by means of a peened shank) on earlier segmental armour to fasten the halves together with a leather tie.
Tie hook – See tie loop.
Tinning – Application of a tin wash to copper-alloy or ferrous scales, fittings, or plates.
Welded ring – Penannular ring of ferrous wire with the ends butted and fire-welded together.
Wiring – Twist of wire used to fasten scales to each other.
Dagger (pugio)
Blade – That part of the weapon below the tang.
Distal taper – When the blade is thicker near the hand guard than near the tip.
Expansion/central knob – Globular broadening of the hand grip to assist with grip.
Fuller/groove – Groove along the blade (also erroneously known as a blood channel).
Hand Grip – That part of the handle/hilt actually grasped by the hand, above the hand guard, below the pommel, and including the expansion.
Hand guard – That part of the handle/hilt nearest to the blade designed to stop the blow of an opponent reaching the hand of the user.
Handle/hilt – Attached to the tang and including the hand guard, hand grip, and peen block/top nut.
Midrib – Ridge running the length (and in the centre) of the blade to act as a reinforcement.
Peen block/top nut – A rove at the top of the handle/hilt, on the pommel, intended to hold the assembly in place on the tang and probably to act as a secondary weapon.
Point – Stabbing portion of the blade, tapering to the tip.
Pommel – The expanded top of the handle, above the hand grip and below the peen block/top nut.
Rivet – A pin with a head used to fasten two items together, often peened over a rove.
Rove – A washer used in conjunction with a rivet.
Tang – That part of the weapon above the blade and enclosed within the handle/hilt.
Tip (mucro) – End of the blade.
Helmet (cassis, galea)
Appliqué – Item applied to an exterior surface, usually as decoration, and might be soldered or riveted in place.
Bowl – The principal component covering the head of the wearer.
Brow band – A decorated appliqué immediately above the front brim of the bowl, running from ear to ear.
Brow guard – Extension that protrudes horizontally above the brow band, riveted in place.
Carrying handle – Attached to the centre of the neck guard, usually with split pins.
Cheek piece (buccula) – Hinged flap attached to the side of the bowl in front of the ears designed to protect the side of the face.
Cover – Leather bag that encloses the bowl to protect it when not in combat.
Cross piece – Pair of reinforcing bars crossing at right-angles over the top of the bowl, arranged fore-and-aft and side-to-side.
Cusp – Cutout from the front of the cheek piece to enhance vision and communication.
Crest (crista) – Central fore-and-aft or side-to-side adornment made of horse hair or feathers attached to the top of the bowl.
Crest box – Container in which the crest is fixed.
Crest holder – Upright extension affixed to the top of the bowl to receive the crest holder.
Crest holder socket – Fitting on the top of the bowl designed to receive the crest holder.
Crest hook – Hook used to secure the ends of the crest box.
Crest knob – Alternative method of attaching the crest box to the bowl, pre-dating the crest holder.
Decorative washer – Often used to adorn rivets serving a purpose.
Ear guard – Extension on either side of the bowl, where there was often a cut-out, to protect the ears where they protruded.
Eyebrow – Corrugation on the front of the bowl above the temple resembling a human eyebrow.
Face mask/visor (persona) – Hinged to the front of the bowl of a cavalry sports helmet.
Flange – Out-turned section at the bottom of a cheek piece designed to help deflect a blow to that part.
Edging/guttering/binding – U-sectioned piping running around the edges of the bowl, neck guard, and cheek pieces.
Hinge – Used to articulate the cheek pieces to the bowl by means of a spindle/bar.
Hinge plate – Plate riveted to the side of the bowl to attach the cheek piece hinge.
Nasal – Protrusion below the centre of the front brim to protect the nose.
Neck guard – Integral extension to the rear of the bowl to deflect blows from the neck and top of the shoulders.
Occiput/occipital region – That part of the rear of the bowl above the neck guard.
Plume – Adornment made of feathers attached to the side of the bowl by means of a plume tube.
Plume tube – Tube riveted to the side of the bowl to receive a plume.
Reinforcing bar/plate – Additions to the top of the helmet that include cross-pieces and broad appliqué bands that enhance the available protection.
Rivet – A pin with a head used to fasten two items together, often peened over a rove.
Rove – A washer used in conjunction with a rivet.
Spindle/bar – Pin providing the means of articulation for a hinge.
Tie ring – Loop attached to a plate in turn riveted to the inside of a cheek piece or underside of a neck guard.
Horse armour
Barding – Protection for a horse’s body, usually at the front.
Chamfron – Armour of metal plate or leather (often with additional studs for decoration and/or protection) that covered the face of the horse.
Eye guard – Made of openwork metal and used in conjunction with a chamfron to protect horses’ eyes.
Peytral/pectoral – Protection for the breast of the horse.
Trapper – Armoured cover for a horse’s body, usually scale armour.
Horse harness
Bit – Component within a horse’s mouth, attached to the bridle and reins, providing the rider with one element of control. Both snaffle bits and curb bits were used by the Romans.
Bitless bridle – See psalion.
Breastplate – Harness elements from the front of the horse to stop the saddle sliding backwards, comprising the shoulder straps, shoulder junctions, breast straps, breast junction, and martingale.
Breast straps – Harness between the shoulder junctions and breast junction.
Breeching – Harness passing around the rear end of the horse and between the haunch junctions.
Bridle (frenum) – Harness element encompassing the head of a horse, attached to the bit, hackamore/bitless bridle/cavesson, and through those to the reins.
Cavesson – See psalion.
Girth – Broad strap passing under the belly of the horse and attached to the saddle and the martingale.
Hackamore – See psalion.
Haunch straps – Straps passing from the haunch junctions to the saddle.
Junction – Articulated union of two or more straps, usually as a ring junction or phalera.
Junction loop – Strap fitting joining harness elements at a ring junction or phalera.
Martingale – Strap passing from the breast junction to the girth; part of the breastplate.
Melon bead – Glass paste/frit bead with vertical ribbing, used on a decorative neck band, interspersed with spacer beads.
Neck band – Decorative strap passing around the neck of the horse, often adorned with melon beads and spacer beads or fringed.
Pendant – Decorative fitting hinged to a phalera or other fitting.
Pendant strap – Decorative strap hanging from a junction, terminated with a strap terminal.
Phalera – Circular fitting acting as a decorative element or junction.
Psalion – Metallic band exerting control on the muzzle of the horse without a bit, but often used together with a bit. Also referred to as a hackamore, cavesson, or bitless bridle.
Reins – Strap (sometimes plaited) passing between either end of the bit or psalion and across the neck of the horse providing the rider with control of the horse’s head.
Ring junction – Type of junction using a cast ring and two or more junction loops.
Saddle (sedilia equitum, sella) – Leather-covered wooden structure designed to raise the rider off the horse’s spine and distribute the weight onto the horse’s flanks. Characterised by four saddle horns. Held in place with the girth, breastplate, and breeching.
Saddle horn (cornicula) – Protrusion at each of the four corners of the saddle intended to keep the rider in position.
Saddle plate – Rectangular attachment to the triplet straps used during long-reining.
Spacer bead – Biconical copper-alloy bead, used on a decorative neck band, interspersed with melon beads.
Strap mount – Decorative attachment to harness straps.
Strap terminal – Decorative fitting attached to the end of a pendant strap.
Triplet straps – Sets of three straps attached to the front and rear of the saddle on either side to which the saddle plates were fixed.
Limb armour (manica, ocrea)
Armguard (manica) – Defence (usually for the sword arm) made from lames/plates attached to internal leathering using rivets and roves.
Cuisse – Articulated thigh guard.
Greave (ocrea) – Shaped metal defence attached to the front of the shin.
Knee guard – Extension to the top of a greave, usually hinged, to protect the knee.
Lames/plates – Individual plates that comprised an armguard, attached to internal leathering with rivets and roves.
Internal leathering – Straps attached to the interior of armguard lames/plates by means of rivets and roves.
Rivet – A pin with a head used to fasten two items together, often peened over a rove.
Rove – A washer used in conjunction with a rivet.
Tie loop – Used to secure a greave to a leg or an armguard to a cuirass.
Pilum
Barb – Sharp points (usually a pair) projecting in the opposite direction to the main point of the head.
Binding – Covering for the hand grip, apparently made from cord wrapped around the shaft.
Bodkin – Pyramidal tip of a missile, designed to pierce armour (usually square in section).
Butt – The rear or lower end of the shaft, usually finished with a conical ferrous ferrule/butt spike.
Collet – A ferrule designed to hold the iron and shaft together and prevent the shaft from splitting at the top.
Expansion – Broader part of the wooden shaft of a pilum designed to receive the tang.
Ferrule/butt spike – A sleeve or cap that is fitted to a wooden shaft to protect it, such as the collet or the conical fitting covering the butt; could be used as a secondary weapon.
Hand grip – That part of the shaft designed to be held.
Head – The tip of the iron, often flat and barbed in early examples and pyramidal in later ones.
Iron – The complete ferrous component, comprising head, shank and tang (or socket).
Nail – Used to attach a ferrule/butt spike or socket to the shaft.
Rivet – A pin or nail (sometimes passed through a rove) that held the tang within – or fixed the socket to the top – of the shaft.
Rove – Square ferrous plate through which a rivet was fastened to the shaft to avoid splitting the wood.
Shaft – The wooden pole (and, for tanged pila, the hafting) to which the iron and ferrule/butt spike were fastened.
Shank – The ferrous neck of the iron, below the head and above the tang or socket (can be circular or square in section, or even both).
Socket – Hollow end of a shank, one of the two principal means of attaching the shank to the shaft.
Spike – Type of tang with no rivets.
Tang – That part of the iron inserted into the shaft to secure it, often with the aid of a collet. Can be a spike with one rivet or none, or flat, with two or three rivets.
Throwing strap (amentum) – Attached to the shaft, it increased the throwing range by acting as a simple lever.
Wedge – Small rectangular ferrous component used to fasten the collet to the shaft.
Weight – Spherical attachment located below the expansion, possibly made of lead, used to give the pilum additional energy.
Plumbata/mattiobarbulus
Barb – Sharp points (usually a pair) projecting in the opposite direction to the main point of the head.
Fins – to provide stability in flight.
Head – Tip of the iron, usually flat and barbed.
Iron – Complete ferrous component, comprising head, shank and tang (or socket).
Shaft – Wooden pole to which the shank was fastened.
Shank – Ferrous neck of the iron, with the head at the top end and the tang or socket at the bottom.
Weight – Lead attachment located on or at the bottom of the shank, used to impart extra energy to the weapon.
Scabbard/sheath (vagina)
Back plate – The rear of a scabbard, nearest the wearer, usually undecorated.
Chape – The lower end of a scabbard, protecting the tip of the blade.
Cross band – Band passing around the scabbard by which suspension loops were attached, also serving to hold the scabbard components (i.e. guttering, locket plate, and back plate) together.
Embossing/raising – Method of adding moulded or plastic decoration to a metal component, usually hand-worked over a former or stamped.
Guttering – Edging (normally metal) of a scabbard, sometimes a continuation of, but often adjoining, the chape.
Inlay – Metal (usually silver or brass), niello, or enamel inserted into a groove cut into the surface of the metal sheet/face plate, locket plate, or chape.
Locket plate – The uppermost decorative plate on the front of the scabbard.
Lower suspension band – Band securing the lower suspension loops to the scabbard.
Metal sheet/face plate – Decorative plate attached to the front of a scabbard, below the mouth plate and above the chape.
Mouth band – Band at the top of a scabbard holding the components (i.e. guttering, locket plate, and back plate) together.
Mouth plate – Plate above the mouth band covering the top of the scabbard with an aperture to receive the weapon.
Neck of terminal knob – That part of the chape immediately above the terminal knob.
Raising – see Embossing/raising
Scabbard slide/runner – Attachment to the front of a scabbard through which a baldric passes, replacing the earlier suspension loop system.
Suspension loop – Means of attachment to a belt or baldric, usually two either side of the scabbard, part of the cross band.
Suspension ring – Attached to the suspension loop for attachment to a belt or baldric.
Terminal disc – Terminal of a dagger scabbard.
Terminal knob – Terminal of a sword scabbard, where the guttering on either side meets.
Upper suspension band – Band securing the upper suspension loops to the scabbard.
Wooden lath – Lining for a scabbard against which the blade rests.
Shield (scutum)
Blazon – Decoration on the front (but also sometimes the rear) of a shield.
Board – The wooden body of the defence, usually constructed from three layers of laths, each arranged perpendicular to the layer beneath/above, or from butted planks.
Boss (umbo) – Central metal attachment to the board to protect the hand of the bearer.
Bowl/dome – The hemispherical or conical part of a boss covering the hand grip.
Cover – Leather bag enclosing the front face of the board and boss to protect from the elements when not in use.
Edging/guttering/binding – Applied to the rim of the board to enhance structural integrity, protect from blows, made of metal or rawhide, and prevent wear when grounding it.
Flange – The peripheral flat region of a boss used to fasten it to the board.
Hand grip – Horizontal handle in the centre of the board behind the bowl/dome of the boss.
Nail – Used to attach the flange of the boss to the board.
Stiffener – Wood or metal reinforcement used to strengthen the rear of the board.
Suspension loop – Fitting on the board to enable the suspension strap to be attached.
Suspension strap – Used to carry the board when not in use, attached to the suspension loops.
Sling (funda)
Bullet (glans) – Missile shot from a sling, also known as a slingshot, could be made from lead, ceramic, or stone. Lead examples could bear propaganda messages.
Cord – Strap held by the slinger, attached to the pouch.
Pouch – Broadest part used to contain the bullet or slingshot.
Slingshot – See bullet.
Spear (hasta) / javelin (lancea) / lance (contus)
Blade – Edged, upper part of the head.
Butt – Lower end of the shaft to which the ferrule/butt spike was attached.
Ferrule/butt spike – Sleeve or cap that is fitted to a shaft to protect it, such as the conical fitting covering the butt; could be used as a secondary weapon.
Head – Blade of the weapon, but also often used of both the blade and socket.
Nail – Used to attach a ferrule/butt spike or socket to the shaft.
Rebate – Reduction in diameter of a shaft for a socket to allow for flush fitting.
Shaft (hastile) – Wooden pole to which the head and ferrule/butt spike were fastened, often employing a rebate.
Socket – Used to attach the head to the shaft.
Throwing strap (amentum) – Attached to the shaft, it increased the throwing range by acting as a simple lever.
Standard (signum)
Adornments – Items fixed to the shaft could include an eagle, imago, phalera, wreath, and name plate.
Butt – Lower end of the shaft.
Draco – Tapering tubular textile body attached to a metal wolf or snake head mounted on a shaft.
Eagle (aquila) – Legionary emblem attached to the top of the shaft, usually depicted clutching a thunderbolt between its talons and wreath around its raised wings.
Ferrule/butt spike – Sleeve or cap that is fitted to the shaft to protect it, such as the conical fitting covering the butt; could be used as a secondary weapon.
Head – Top of the shaft, sometimes incorporating a spearhead.
Imago – Likeness of the emperor as a relief phalera or bust within a niche, or an animal figurine standard.
Nail – Used to attach a ferrule/butt spike or socket to the shaft.
Name plate – Metal plate with the name of a unit embossed on it.
Phalera – Decorative disc attached to the shaft.
Rebate – Reduction in diameter of a shaft for a socket to allow for flush fitting.
Shaft – Wooden pole to which the head, adornments, and ferrule/butt spike were fastened.
Signum – Collective term for standards.
Socket – Used to attach a head or ferrule/butt spike to the shaft.
Vexillum – Rectangular textile banner suspended from a crossbar attached to a shaft.
Wreath – Metal representation of a laurel wreath.
Sword (gladius, spatha)
Blade – That part of the weapon below the tang.
Distal taper – When the blade is thicker near the hand guard than near the tip.
Edge (acies) – Cutting portion of the blade along one or both sides.
Fuller/groove – Groove along the blade (also popularly known as a blood channel).
Hand grip – That part of the handle/hilt that was held in the hand.
Hand guard – That part of the handle/hilt nearest to the blade designed to stop the blow of an opponent reaching the hand of the user.
Hand guard plate – Reinforcing plate at the bottom of the tang designed to protect the hand guard.
Handle/hilt (capulus) – Attached to the tang and including the hand guard plate, hand guard, hand grip, pommel, and peen block/top nut.
Pattern welding – Twisted core of a blade to which the edges are welded.
Peen block/top nut – A rivet at the top of the handle/hilt intended to hold the assembly in place on the tang and to act as a secondary weapon.
Point – Stabbing portion of the blade, tapering to the tip.
Pommel – That part of the handle/hilt at the top of the tang designed to counterbalance the blade and act as a secondary weapon.
Shoulders – The top of the blade, between the edges and the tang.
Tang – That part of a sword enclosed within the handle/hilt.
Tip (mucro) – End of the blade.