hilt

hilt — noun

1. a handgrip built for swords and daggers — you hold this part to control the blad

1.nounB2
Definition

a handgrip built for swords and daggers — you hold this part to control the blade, and it usually includes a guard and a pommel.

Example

Tariro gripped the hilt of his sword tightly before stepping onto the battlefield.

collocation: grip the hilt

The dagger's hilt was decorated with silver wire and dark red stones.

possessive: [weapon]'s hilt

Common collocations
  • grip the hilt
  • sword hilt
  • dagger hilt
  • ornate hilt
  • wooden hilt
  • bronze hilt
  • wrap the hilt
  • hilt of a sword
Synonyms
  • handle

    general term for the part you hold on any tool or weapon; much broader in use than hilt

  • grip

    the part of the handle you actually hold with your hand; often wrapped in leather or cord on a sword

  • haft

    mainly used for knives, axes, and similar bladed tools; less common for swords

Antonyms
  • blade

    the cutting part of the weapon, opposite to the hilt

Common Mistakes

He grabbed the knife by the hilt.
He grabbed the knife by the handle.
For everyday knives and kitchen tools, 'handle' or 'grip' is far more natural; 'hilt' is reserved for swords, daggers, and ceremonial blades.
Idioms

to the hilt (up to the hilt)

idiom

as much as possible; in the most complete way; without holding anything back.

The local bank backed Paloma's new business venture to the hilt.

Rohan played the lead role in the school play to the hilt.

(up) to the hilt

idiom

To the greatest possible degree or extent.

The company is committed to the project up to the hilt.

Did you support your friend to the hilt during his crisis?

Word family

  • hilted
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Hilt is the most specific term of the four, referring almost exclusively to the handle of a sword, dagger, or similar bladed weapon — especially one with a guard or crosspiece. Handle is the all-purpose word that can describe the grip part of anything from a suitcase to a frying pan, making it far more common in everyday speech. Grip focuses on the functional section you actually hold, and is often used for the wrapped or textured part of a tool's handle; on a sword, the grip sits between the guard and the pommel. Haft is a narrower word that typically applies to knives, axes, and spears rather than swords, and sounds more old-fashioned or technical. For example, you would call the long wooden piece of an axe its haft, but you would call the decorated end of a ceremonial sword its hilt.

hilt ↗handle ↗grip ↗haft

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sword hilt
  • dagger hilt
  • knife hilt
  • bronze hilt
  • wooden hilt

Phrases

  • grip the hilt
  • wrap the hilt
  • hilt of a sword

Prepositions

  • by the hilt
  • to the hilt

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'hilt' comes from Old English 'hilte' (also spelled 'hilt'), which meant the handle of a sword. It is related to Old Norse 'hjalt' (sword-guard) and Proto-Germanic '*heltō'. Unlike many English weapon terms that entered the language through French after the Norman Conquest, 'hilt' is native Germanic vocabulary that has been in use for well over a thousand years.