Halberd

A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge) is a two-handed <a href="/facts/Polearm/KJgmqBXD">polearm</a> that came to prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an <a href="/facts/Axe/caIr6REq">axe</a> blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It can have a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade for grappling <a href="/facts/Cavalry/BstsEn1G">mounted combatants</a> and protecting allied soldiers, typically <a href="/facts/Musketman/NnXf5EUz">musketeers</a>. The halberd was usually 1.5 to 1.8 metres (4.9 to 5.9 ft) long.
The word halberd is <a href="/facts/Cognate/nXETf5Y4">cognate</a> with the German word Hellebarde, deriving from <a href="/facts/Middle_High_German/LI9JRDIu">Middle High German</a> halm (handle) and barte (battleaxe) joined to form helmbarte. Troops that used the weapon were called halberdiers. The word has also been used to describe a weapon of the early Bronze Age in Western Europe. This consisted of a blade mounted on a pole at a right angle.

Halberd open-in-new

Halberd