HALBERD

[hal.berd] also hal.bert n [ME, fr. MF hallebarde, fr. MHG helmbarte, fr. helm handle (fr. OHG helmo) + barte ax, fr. OHG barta; akin to OHG bart beard--more at helm, beard] (15c): a weapon esp. of the 15th and 16th centuries consisting typically of a battle-ax and pike mounted on a handle about six feet long