xyston

xyston means A type of long thrusting lance, used in ancient Greece.

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ξυστόν (xustón, “spear, javelin”), of unknown origin. Potentially from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰasto- or *ǵʰasdʰo- (“branch ~ spear, sharp spine”) (whence also gad, goad, and yard), but this is likely a substrate word in view of the various irregularities.

noun

A type of long thrusting lance, used in ancient Greece.e.g.“The Companions, like the Thessalian cavalry, were a well-mounted force armed with cuirass and the short thrusting spear (xyston) for close combat.” — 2004, J. F. C. Fuller, The Generalship of Alexander the Great, page 47:

Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Words closest in meaning

By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.

xiphos 62% match — A double-edged, single-handed sword, typically used by Ancient Greek hoplites as a secondary weapon after the dory (thrusting spear) or javelin. vs xyston →
lancegay 57% match — A type of spear, javelin or lance. vs xyston →
gastraphetes 56% match — A hand-held crossbow used by the Ancient Greeks. vs xyston →
pike 56% match — A very long spear used two-handed by infantry soldiers for thrusting (not throwing), both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as a countermeasure against cavalry assaults. vs xyston →
peltast 55% match — A type of light infantry unit in Ancient Greece who often served as skirmishers. vs xyston →
gladius 55% match — A Roman sword roughly two feet long. vs xyston →
estoc 55% match — A type of sword used from the 14th to the 17th century, characterized by a long, straight, edgeless, sharply pointed blade designed for penetrating mail or plate. vs xyston →
spatha 53% match — A type of straight sword originating from the first-century Roman Empire. It was worn typically by cavalry officers and is a long version of the left shaped gladius. vs xyston →