French word

poignard

Pronunciation

IPA/pwaɲaʁ/

Meaning

  • masculine noundagger

Example

Il a caché un poignard sous sa veste.

He hid a dagger under his jacket.

Illustration for poignard (dagger)

More examples

La police a retrouvé un poignard sur les lieux.

The police found a dagger at the scene.

Core concept

A short dagger kept close to the hand, with a point made for piercing at close range.

Common phrases

  • un coup de poignard

    a dagger thrust

  • porter un poignard

    carry a dagger

  • sortir un poignard

    draw a dagger

Similar words

couteau: A bladed tool of various shapes used for cutting in cooking or other tasks.
arme: A tool or weapon used to harm people or damage things.

Definition in French

Petit couteau à lame pointue, surtout employé comme arme pour porter des coups perçants à courte distance.

Word origin

Old French formed poignart from poing, related to Latin pugnus, 'fist,' and the suffix -ard, naming a small hand weapon.

Usage tips

  • The verb poignarder takes its victim as a direct object: poignarder quelqu'un, without the preposition à.

Related words

Word lists with this word