handseax

Old English

Alternative forms

• handsex, handsecs

Etymology

From Proto-West Germanic *handusahs, from Proto-Germanic *handusahsą, equivalent to hand +‎ seax. Cognate with Old Norse handsax (“short sword, dirk”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxɑndˌsæ͜ɑks/, [ˈhɑndˌsæ͜ɑks]

Noun

handseax n

1. a short sword; dagger

Declension

Declension of handseax (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	handseax	handseax
accusative	handseax	handseax
genitive	handseaxes	handseaxa
dative	handseaxe	handseaxum

Related terms

• hupseax
• meteseax

Descendants

• Middle English: hond-sæx