Definition

A short, curved Turkish or Middle Eastern sword with a single sharp edge, traditionally without a crossguard, often used as a weapon or cutting tool.

Example Usage

The museum's collection included an ornate yataghan with a jeweled handle from the Ottoman period.

Origin

From Turkish 'yatağan', possibly derived from a place name or personal name

Fun Fact

The yataghan's distinctive curve made it effective for slashing while the lack of a guard allowed for versatile grip changes, making it popular among Ottoman soldiers.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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