some famous swords
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
In the days of chivalry a knight's horse and sword were his most treasured and carefully kept possessions, and his sword — equally with his horse — had its
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “some famous swords” mean?
In the days of chivalry a knight's horse and sword were his most treasured and carefully kept possessions, and his sword — equally with his horse — had its
Is “some famous swords” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.