Jim McDougall wrote:
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the basket hilt existed in England as well in these early times, and I believe the term exists in Shakespeares work .
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Thanks to the Internet, such things are much easier to find than in the days long ago when I was a struggling English major
Shakespeare wrote:
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Away, you cut-purse rascal! you filthy bung, away! By this
wine, I'll thrust my knife in your mouldy chaps, an you play
saucy cuttle with me. Away, you bottle-ale rascal! you
basket-hilt stale juggler, you! Since when, I pray you, sir?
God's light, with two points on your shoulder? Much!
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-Henry IV, Part II; Act II, Scene 4.
Footnote to
The Yale Shakespeare indicates the term is used literally: "referring to the basket-shaped steel hand-guard on the hilt of Pistol's sword".