Editing Halberd (section)

{{short description|Type of polearm with axe blade topped with a spike}}
{{Redirect|Halbert}}
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| image1            = Archive-ugent-be-79D46426-CC9D-11E3-B56B-4FBAD43445F2 DS-263 (cropped).jpg
| caption1          = Halberd illustrated in "Théâtre de tous les peuples et nations de la terre avec leurs habits et ornemens divers, tant anciens que modernes, diligemment depeints au naturel". Painted by [[Lucas de Heere|Lucas d'Heere]] in the second half of the 16th century. Manuscript preserved in the [[Ghent University Library]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Théâtre de tous les peuples et nations de la terre avec leurs habits et ornemens divers, tant anciens que modernes, diligemment depeints au naturel par Luc Dheere peintre et sculpteur Gantois[manuscript]|url=https://lib.ugent.be/viewer/archive.ugent.be:79D46426-CC9D-11E3-B56B-4FBAD43445F2#?c=&m=&s=&cv=31&xywh=-4713,-530,14893,8315|access-date=2020-08-25|website=lib.ugent.be}}</ref>
| image2            = Halberdier-corps.jpg
| caption2          = Halberdiers from a modern-day [[Historical reenactment|reenactor]] troupe
}}
A '''halberd''' (also called '''halbard''', '''halbert''' or '''Swiss voulge''') is a two-handed [[polearm]] that came to prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an [[axe]] blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It can have a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade for grappling [[Cavalry|mounted combatants]] and protecting allied soldiers, typically [[Musketman|musketeers]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Military technology – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-57610/military-technology |access-date=2013-06-13 |last=Guilmartin |first=John F. Jr.}}</ref> The halberd was usually {{Convert|1.5|to|1.8|m|ft}} long.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9038851/halberd |title=Halberd – Britannica Online Encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=2013-06-13}}</ref>

The word ''halberd'' is [[cognate]] with the German word ''Hellebarde'', deriving from [[Middle High German]] ''halm'' (handle) and ''barte'' (battleaxe) joined to form ''helmbarte''. Troops that used the weapon were called '''halberdiers'''. The word has also been used to describe a weapon of the early Bronze Age in Western Europe. This consisted of a blade mounted on a pole at a right angle.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25549844 | jstor=25549844 | title=The Early Bronze Age Halberd: A History of Research and a Brief Guide to the Sources | last=O'Flaherty | first=Ronan | journal=The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland | date=1998 | volume=128 | pages=74–94 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.academia.edu/6095439/The_Early_Bronze_Age_Halberd_in_Ireland_-_Function_and_Context A CONSIDERATION OF THE EARLY BRONZE AGE HALBERD IN IRELAND Function and Context]
by Ronan O'Flaherty, M.A. A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of PhD. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN 2002
Supervisors: Professor Barry Raftery and Dr. Joanna Brück. DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY FACULTY OF ARTS</ref>