Legal Definitions - glaive

A glaive was a historical weapon, typically a type of sword, lance, or horseman's staff. Legally, it is significant as one of the specific weapons permitted for use in a trial by combat.

A glaive refers to a historical weapon, typically a polearm consisting of a single-edged blade affixed to a long shaft. It could also broadly describe certain types of swords or lances used by horsemen during medieval periods.

• Example 1: Museum Exhibit
  Imagine visiting a museum's medieval arms and armor exhibit. A display case features a long wooden pole with a sharp, curved blade at one end. The accompanying informational plaque identifies it as a "glaive," explaining its use by infantry to counter cavalry charges.

  This example illustrates the term by showcasing a physical representation of a glaive as a historical weapon, highlighting its design and intended purpose in warfare.

• Example 2: Historical Novel Description
  In a historical novel set during the Hundred Years' War, a passage describes a foot soldier bracing for battle, "his grip firm on the polished shaft of his glaive, its gleaming blade ready to meet the charging knights."

  Here, the term "glaive" is used in a narrative context to describe a specific weapon wielded by a combatant, emphasizing its role in historical engagements and its characteristic appearance.

• Example 3: Inventory of a Medieval Castle
  A historian studying ancient legal documents uncovers an inventory from a 14th-century English castle. Among the listed armaments are "twenty suits of plate armor, fifty longbows, and a dozen glaives for the castle guard."

  This example demonstrates how the term "glaive" would appear in historical records, such as an inventory, indicating its recognition as a standard piece of military equipment within a legal or administrative context of the time.