Mattucashlass Explained

A mattucashlass is a type of dagger worn concealed in the armpit and primarily used for close combat, part of traditional Scottish male Highland dress.[1] It is also referred to as an armpit dagger[1] or a sleeve dagger in English. In Scots, the alternative name skene-ochil or skene-occles can also be found.[2]

Etymology

The term mattucashlass derives from Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: biodag-achlais[3] (in Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic pronounced as /pit̪akˈaxl̪ˠɪʃ/, Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: biodag meaning "dagger" and Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: achlais "armpit") presumably via the dialectal by-form Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: miodag, which is attested in Shaw's 1788 Galic and English Dictionary.[4]

It is also known in Gaelic as the Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sgian-achlais (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: sgian meaning "knife"),[5] from which the Scots term Scots: skene-ochil or Scots: skene-occles is derived.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Duane, William A Military Dictionary Philadelphia, 1810
  2. Web site: skean . . Dictionary of the Scots Language . 1 May 2016 .
  3. Web site: Dagger . . Am Faclair Beag . 1 May 2016 .
  4. Shaw, William Galic and English Dictionary 1780
  5. Web site: Sgian-achlais . . Am Faclair Beag . 1 May 2016 .