Claymore

Claymore, a compound Gaelic word from a word cognate to Lat. gladius, and English glaive, and the epithet mor, great (cf. MacCallum More, Dugald Mohr, Arranmore). The name was first applied to the great two-banded Scottish sword, such as Lindsay is described in The Monastery as carrying on his celebrated visit to Queen Mary at Loch Leven - a sword so long as to be carried on the back, and drawn from over the shoulder - an apparently impossible feat. Later the name came to he applied to the basket-hilted broadsword. which formed part of the equipment of a Highland gentleman, and is still carried by the officers of a Highland regiment. The cry of "Claymore" had the same significance for a Highlander as the cry of "Clubs" for a London apprentice of the olden time. Many an Andrea Ferrara blade became a Clavmore.