claymore

[kley-mawr, -mohr] /ˈkleɪˌmɔr, -ˌmoʊr/
noun
1.
a two-handed sword with a double-edged blade, used by Scottish Highlanders in the 16th century.
2.
a Scottish broadsword with a basket hilt.
Origin
1765-75; < Scots Gaelic claidheamh mòr great sword
Examples from the web for claymore
  • And when he finally closes in on the enemy, you see him draw his claymore from his back.
British Dictionary definitions for claymore

claymore

/ˈkleɪˌmɔː; Scottish ˌkleˈmor/
noun
1.
a large two-edged broadsword used formerly by Scottish Highlanders
2.
a US type of antipersonnel mine
Word Origin
C18: from Gaelic claidheamh mōr great sword
Word Origin and History for claymore
n.

1749, "two-edged broadsword of ancient Scottish Highlanders," from Gaelic claidheamh mor "great sword," from claidheb "sword" (cf. Welsh cleddyf), possibly from PIE root *kel- "to strike" (see holt) + mor "great" (cf. Welsh mawr; see more). An antiquarian word made familiar again by Scott's novels; modern military application to pellet-scattering anti-personnel mine is first attested 1962.

Slang definitions & phrases for claymore

Claymore

noun

A danger; an unpredicted peril: skipping from television to a feature-film career has its built-in Claymore

[1990s+; fr the US claymore antipersonnel mine, named in turn for a Scottish broadsword]