spadone

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A long and heavy sword, usually one wielded by both hands. It was commonly carried without a scabbard, behind and across the back, with the handle projecting over the right shoulder, or resting on the shoulder as the modern rifle at shoulder arms, and for this reason the heel of the blade was often covered with leather, there being no edge for the first quarter or third part of its length, and sometimes a small secondary guard was interposed before the sharp part of the blade begins. See cut under second. Hewitt.