🗡️ A small dagger 🗡️ To stab

poignard

1 9.9

A small pointed knife used as a weapon

noun
/ˈpɔɪnjɑrd/

Archaic

: puñal

In the shadowy corner of the room, lay an old poignard that had seen many battles.

Examples

During the historical reenactment, he proudly displayed his ornate poignard to the audience.
When some women began to wear "broad-brimmed hats" and even "stilettoes or poignards," King James himself intervened.

Fiction book (1991)
Even after the tiny poignard was discovered stuck between his ribs, people continued to argue that he hadn't been murdered, since they were used to seeing foreigners emerge from the perfume souk with shaky knees, a dopey smile, and eyes rolling from the rich conjunction of smells and darkness.

Fiction book (1994)
The soldier drew his poignard for a close combat encounter with the enemy.

Synonyms

dagger

vspoignard

103 4.4

A short pointed knife used for stabbing

is the old-fashioned word for the same small pointed weapon

stiletto

vspoignard

4 7.5

A small thin dagger used for stabbing

is an old-fashioned name for a similar small pointed weapon

poniard

vspoignard

Archaic

1 9.9

A small thin dagger used as a weapon in the past

is an old-fashioned name for that small pointed weapon

bodkin

vspoignard

Archaic

1 9.9

A small pointed knife used as a weapon

is an old-fashioned term for this small pointed weapon

Bridport dagger

vspoignard

Archaic

9.9

A small old knife with a short pointed blade that collectors keep and museums show

is the general old-fashioned term rather than a specific model

How Small

stiletto

4 7.5

poignard

Archaic

1 9.9

spear

194 1.2

sword

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

poignard singular

poignards plural

Etymology

Poignard comes from an old French word poing meaning 'fist', because this dagger was small enough to be held in the fist. So a poignard is a short, pointed knife used for close fighting.