- hilt
- noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German helza hilt Date: before 12th century a handle especially of a sword or dagger
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
hilt
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hilt — /hilt/, n. 1. the handle of a sword or dagger. 2. the handle of any weapon or tool. 3. to the hilt, to the maximum extent or degree; completely; fully: to play the role to the hilt. Also, up to the hilt. v.t. 4. to furnish with a hilt. [bef. 900; … Universalium
hilt — [hılt] n [: Old English;] 1.) the handle of a sword or knife, where the blade is attached 2.) to the hilt completely support/defend/back sb to the hilt ▪ I m backing the PM to the hilt on this … Dictionary of contemporary English
hilt — [ hılt ] noun count the handle of a sword or DAGGER (up) to the hilt INFORMAL as much as possible, or to the highest level possible: Mike s colleagues were prepared to defend him to the hilt. The estate was mortgaged up to the hilt … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
hilt — [hilt] n. [ME hilt < OE, akin to ON hjalt < IE base * kel , to strike, split > L calamitas, harm, OE hild, battle] the handle of a sword, dagger, tool, etc.: see SWORD vt. to provide a hilt for to the hilt thoroughly; entirely … English World dictionary
hilt — O.E. hilt hilt, handle of a sword or dagger, from P.Gmc. *helt (Cf. O.N. hjalt, O.H.G. helza hilt, O.S. helta oar handle ), perhaps from PIE *kel to strike. Formerly also used in plural in same sense as singular … Etymology dictionary
Hilt — Hilt, n. [AS. hilt, hilte; akin to OHG. helza, Prov. G. hilze, Icel. hjalt.] 1. A handle; especially, the handle of a sword, dagger, or the like. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
hilt — ► NOUN ▪ the handle of a sword, dagger, or knife. ● to the hilt Cf. ↑to the hilt ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
hilt — [[t]hɪ̱lt[/t]] hilts 1) N COUNT The hilt of a sword, dagger, or knife is its handle. ...the hilt of the small, sharp knife. 2) PHRASE: usu PHR after v (emphasis) To the hilt and up to the hilt mean to the maximum extent possible or as fully as… … English dictionary
hilt — UK [hɪlt] / US noun [countable] Word forms hilt : singular hilt plural hilts the handle of a sword or dagger • (up) to the hilt informal as much as possible or to the highest level possible Mike s colleagues were prepared to defend him to the… … English dictionary
hilt — /hɪlt / (say hilt) noun 1. the handle of a sword or dagger. 2. the handle of any weapon or tool. –verb (t) 3. to furnish with a hilt. –phrase 4. to the hilt, fully; completely: armed to the hilt. {Middle English hylt, Old English hilt, hilte}… …
hilt — noun (C) 1 the handle of a sword or knife that is used as a weapon 2 (up) to the hilt completely, or as much as possible: mortgaged up to the hilt | I d back him to the hilt any day … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
