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Old 5th July 2009, 09:12 PM   #9
fernando
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Location: Portugal
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Hi Manolo,

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
Isn't it derived from the Genevan Espadron ... coming from the Italian Espadone ... or French Espadon ... or Portuguese Espadão ? .
In current portuguese connotation it means large sword; i wouldn't presently know what it meant in that period and context, though.
Fernando
Quote:
Originally Posted by celtan
Espadon would be Spanish, literally big sword. In French, a espada would be a epee. A big epee...?
I kmow this is not the right tempo, but only now i take notice of your observation on my trying to establish the ethimology of spadroon (a point also raised in this thread by Jim).
The thing is that, besides being spanish, 'espadon' is also french ... meaning a great (two handed) sword; hence 'espadonier' is fencing with a great sword.
Obviously the context of such typologies 'shrunk' a bit for the spadroon attribution .
Best wishes, my amigo.
Feenando
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