Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
simitar [sim-i-ter] Examples noun
scimitar or scim·i·ter, sim·i·tar [sim-i-ter] noun
- a curved, single-edged sword of Asian, especially Eastern origin.
Origin of scimitar 1540–50; Italian scimitarra, ultimately PersianRelated formsscim·i·tared, adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for simitar Historical Examples of simitar
Lionel was too bored to speculate whether it might be Mizzi, Winifred or some unknown Oriental with turban and simitar.
Richard Bird
British Dictionary definitions for simitar simitar noun
- a rare spelling of scimitar
scimitar rarely simitar noun
- an oriental sword with a curved blade broadening towards the point
Word Origin for scimitar C16: from Old Italian scimitarra, probably from Persian shimshīr, of obscure origin Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for simitar scimitar n.
1540s, cimiterie, from Middle French cimeterre (15c.) or Italian scimitarra, of uncertain origin. Turkish would be the expected source, but no such word has been found there. Perhaps from Persian shimshir (pronounced “shamsher,” cf. Greek sampsera “a barbarian sword,” from this source), but OED finds this “unsatisfactory as to form.” Many early variations; the modern spelling is from influence of the Italian form of the word. Century Dictionary (1902) has simitar as preferred spelling.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
