A dagger, by definition, is sharp on both edges? Why the proverb: "2-edged sword"? Why not "dagger"?

Question

I apologize for the choppy grammar in which I phrased my question. Yahoo doesn't give much room for proper phrasing sometimes...

I was reading and came across the well-known saying whereupon something is compared to a "double-edged sword".

Isn't a dagger two-edged? If so, is a dagger, by definition, always two-edged? Is there any other type of knife/ sword that is always or often two edged?

Wasn't sure how to categorize this question.

Thanks!

Obviously, of course, I realize there is a difference between a sword and a dagger (size-wise), and that a dagger is a knife and a sword.. isn't.

But moving on, my question was, why, when not all swords are double-edged, does the proverb use swords instead of daggers (which are double edged?)?

Answer 1

There are two reasons for the phrase taking this form. First, as you pointed out, daggers are always double-edged, and by a similar token until recent times a small, double-edged blade would not be likely to be described as a "double-edged knife" but simply as a dagger. Using a sword, which may have either one or two cutting edges, drives home the point (no pun intended) that the situation being referred to is distinct in that it can be good and/or bad. A similar comparison between a knife and a dagger would distract from the phrase's actual message.

The second reason is that swords are the ubiquitous human weapon. Swords are well known and have long histories all over the world, were in their many forms the weapon of choice the world over until the rise of firearms, and have associated with them a certain nostalgia and mythic quality. This has led to them being the "weapon of choice" when a weapon is called for.

For example, you might just as well say "The pen is mightier than the warhammer", but the phrase uses the sword instead as it is a more evocative and readily recognized symbol, along with being a more popular and enduring weapon.

Answer 2

there are many daggers with a double blade, but a good many swords from a certain period or a type also have a double edge. A good example is a broadsword. It had 2 edges. Reason for this, durring combat one edge would get very beaten up from use fighting. To prolong a knight's fighting value, or increase a chance of killing more, he simple flipped the blade around to continue the fight with the now fresh edge. So a sword usually had one bad side, and one good side. This due to the fact that most battles in those days didn't last overly long.

A dagger has a double blade for a totally different reason. A dagger is used on a soft target to slice and stab. when stabbing the double edge cuts both directions and does more damage easier. so, both edges are supposed to be equally sharp. Thus 2 good blades. This is why it is "a double edged sword".

Answer 3

Daggers are shorter, for close-in or suprise attacks. Swords are a main weapon, for open combat. Also, a two-edged sword is more likely to cut its wielder than a dagger, due to the way the weapons are used. Two-edged swords are primarily hacking weapons, with some use of the point, while daggers are thrusting weapons. Little chance that a thrust dagger will bounce back into the face of its wielder, but this is a very real risk with two-edged swords.

Answer 4

A dagger is smaller than a sword, so it uses a different name. Most swords are double edged, but some aren't. I suggest setting up an account on runescape.com, and asking the question there. It is a website where it's sort of in the medieval times. There is a lot of swords there, and most people on there have some experience.

Answer 5

Well...my opinion is that the proverb of a "double-edged sword" refers not only to that of having a sword with no handle, but also one that has absolutely nothing to do with swords at all. Swords are a symbol that one usually puts with a knight, or a king. The fact is that the "double-edged sword" is more like...well, more like "don't judge a book by its cover." Its not neccessarily literal. There may be a deeper meaning that I just can't explain right now.

Also, don't take things so....well....I guess look deeper than just those 16 boxes (Ever seen that? How many squares are there? (laughs) Yeah...) Don't just look at it and say, "There's 16 boxes there! Okay, I'm done!" and walk away. Think about it...

Answer 6

In as much we are talkin bout proverb the double edge sword decribes the blade and dagger is it classification as a weapon. A Dagger is smaller than a sword then even it a double edged it is still a dagger.

Answer 7

The phrase counts on the fact that some swords (rapiers, for example) are double-edged and some (sabers) are not. Some situations cut both ways and some do not.

Most daggers are double-edged. Saying the situation is "like a dagger" would not immediately bring up the double-edged aspect. People would wonder if you meant "sharp" or "small" or "deadly".

Answer 8

Well, I think it is because men were in the role of power and they carried swords and although they did also carry a dagger, or dirk, the weapon was more often worn on the girdle of women of a high rank, for their own use and for their protection. A sword was a symbol of power and dominance. But, there is also the saying about a situation being so delicate it was referred to as "walking on a razor's edge". I think it was also the title of a book which was made into a movie with Bill Murray in it.l

Answer 9

swords are bigger than daggers, and Most swords the Romans carried were 2 edged, so you could both hack and thrust. I carried a French type that was double edged when I was a kid in a drum corps. it looked amazingly like a long dagger.

Answer 10

A dagger is not a two edged sword. It is a two edged knife. A sword and a knife are different things.

FP