Hilt Meaning
/hɪlt/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe handle of a sword, consisting of grip, guard, and pommel, designed to facilitate use of the blade and afford protection to the hand.
nounThe base of the penis.
Sentence Examples
He's living his role to the hilt.
She shoved the knife in to the hilt.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He held the sword's ____ tightly as he prepared for battle.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The knight gripped the ____ of his sword tightly as he prepared to face his opponent.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English hilt, hilte, from Old English hilt, hilte, from Proto-Germanic *heltą, *heltǭ, *heltō, *hiltijō, (compare Old Norse hjalt, Old High German helza, Old Saxon helta), from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“to strike, cut”) (see holt).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A partial tang does not extend all the way through the hilt and is normally not more than half the width of the blade. The length of the tang and the width, particularly where it narrows before entering the pommel, vary from sword to sword."
— 2009, James Drewe, Tàijí Jiàn 32-Posture Sword Form, Singing Dragon, →ISBN:
"he draws it again, and just wetting it with spittle, re-enters, and with ease sheath'd it now up to the hilt"
— 1749, [John Cleland], “(Please specify the letter or volume)”, in Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure [Fanny Hill], London: […] [Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e., Fenton and Ralph Griffiths] […], →OCLC:
"Joy saw stars as Malcolm's hard, thick cock pushed to his hilt, the reality shattering every fantasy about him she ever had. She opened her legs wider and bent her knees. As he pulled out, she tilted her pelvis for his next thrust. His cock ran against her clit hood barbell[…]"
— 2017 December 1, Lexi Post, Temptations of Christmas Future, Lexi Post, →ISBN:
"She jerked his hilt steadily as I rocked over the sensitive head of his cock. The more I worked him the more I felt my crotch dampen with lust."
— 2023 October 5, Nicki Menage, Milf’s Threesomes 60-Pack : Books 1 - 60 (Milf Erotica Threesome Erotica Anal Sex Erotica Lesbian Erotica), Taboo Ink:
"Being lightly hilted, it was very heavy in the point and was useful only as an unscientific chopper, dangerous if it connected with a vital part of an adversary, ideal for cutting at defenceless infantry, but unsuitable for sabre to sabre action, especially against the French equivalent, a beautifully balanced weapon, which was so functional that it was still used by the French cavalry in 1918, while a copy was used by the Prussians in the war of 1870."
— 1973, Ugo Pericoli, 1815: the armies at Waterloo, page 78:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He held the sword's ____ tightly as he prepared for battle.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The knight gripped the ____ of his sword tightly as he prepared to face his opponent.