at half-sword

English

Pronunciation

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Adjective

at half-sword (not comparable)

1. (archaic, rare) fighting a close fight, closer than a sword's length to one's opponents.
   • c. 1623, William Shakespeare, The First Part of King Henry the Fourth:

     I am a rogue, if I were not at half-sword with a dozen of them two hours together. I have 'scaped by miracle. I am eight times thrust through the doublet, four through the hose; my buckler cut through and through; my sword hack'd like a hand-saw