Etymology Borrowed from Middle French poignard (whence -ard), from poing (“fist”), from Old French poing, from Latin pugnus (“fist”).
1
Historical A dagger typically having a slender square or triangular blade.
The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary horses, / against the which he impon'd as I take it, sixe French / Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes, as Girdle, / Hangers or so[…].c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
You yeoman phevvterer, conduct mee to / The Lady of the manſion, or my poniard / Shall diſemboge thy ſoule.c. 1621–1623 (date written), Philip Massinger, The Maid of Honour. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Robert Allot, […], published 1632, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii, signatures D2, verso – D3, recto:
4 more examples
One of the tragic authors, finding himself assaulted in the dark, had, by way of poinard, employed upon his adversary's throat a knife which lay upon the table, for the convenience of cutting cheese […].1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter 101, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume IV, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
A Poynard is more sure to wound a man, which forsomuch as it requireth more motion and vigor of the arme, than a pistol, it's stroke is more subject to be hindred or avoyded.1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 29, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
On this occasion I said nothing, but concealing his poniard in my clothes, I hasted up the mountain, determined to execute my purpose […].1824, James Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner:
The gaunt men carried swords and daggers with a new familiarity, and even the women had poniards belted at their waists.2003, Christopher Paolini, “Dragon Tales”, in Eragon, pages 22-23:
poniard
verb
Etymology Borrowed from Middle French poignard (whence -ard), from poing (“fist”), from Old French poing, from Latin pugnus (“fist”).
1
To stab with a poniard.
Manfred […] would have poignarded the peasant in their arms.1764, Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto, section I: