Etymology Dictionary

HALBERD, HALBERT,  a kind of pole-axe.  (F.,—M.H.G.)   In Shak. Com. Errors, v. 185.   Ben Jonson has halbardiers, Every Man, ed. Wheatley, iii. 5. 14.—O.F. halebarde, 'an halberd, 'an halberd;' Cot.—M.H.G. helmbarte, later halenbarte, mod. G. hellebarte, an axe with which to split a helmet, furnished with a conveniently long handle, as if derived from M.H.G. (and G.) helm, a helmet; and M.H.G. (and G.) barte, O.H.G. parta, a broad axe.   β. But this was an accommodation of the sense to the common meaning of helm; the real orig. meaning was 'long-handled axe,' from M.H.G. halm, a helve, handle; see Helm (1).   2. The origin of O.H.G. parta is obscure; some derive it from O.H.G. perjan, M.H.G. bern, berren, to strike, cognate with Icel. berja, Lat. ferire, to strike; see Ferule.   Others connect O.H.G. parta with O.H.G. part, G. bart, a beard, and this certainly accounts better for the vowel.   As to the connection between 'beard' and 'axe,' compare Icel. barð (the same word as E. beard, but used in the sense of a fin of a fish, or beak of a ship) with Icel. barða, a kind of axe; whilst the Icel. skeggja, a kind of halberd, is plainly derived from skegg, a beard.   The connection is again seen in O.F. barbelé, explained by Cotgrave as 'bearded, also full of snags, snips, jags, notches; whence flesche barbelée, a bearded, or barbed arrow;' see Barb.   Similarly the halberd may have been named from the jagged and irregular shape of the iron head.   Der. halberd-ier, O.F. halebardier, 'an halberdier;' Cot.