or HALBARD, in the art of war, a well-known weapon carried by the sergeants of foot and dragoons. It is a sort of spear, the shaft of which is about five feet long, and made of ash or other wood. Its head is armed with a steel point, not unlike the point of a two-edged sword. But, besides this sharp point which is in a line with the shaft, there is a cross piece of steel, flat and pointed at both ends; but generally with a cutting edge at one extremity, and a bent harp point at the other; so that it serves equally to cut down or to push withal. It is also useful in determining the ground between the ranks, and adjusting the files of a battalion. The word is formed of the German halb, "half," and bard, "an hatchet." Vossius derives it from the German halbeaert, of bel, "clarus, splendens," and baert, "ax."

The halbert was anciently a common weapon in the army, where there were companies of halbardiers. It is said to have been used by the Amazons, and afterwards by the Rhatians and Vindelicians about the year 570.

It was called the Danjb ax, because the Danes bore an halbert on the left shoulder. From the Danes it was derived to the Scots, from the Scots to the English Saxons, and from them to the French.