sword-hand
Noun - The hand that holds a sword: "sword-hand" refers specifically to the hand used to wield a sword, typically the right hand in traditional Western fencing or combat contexts. It implies the dominant hand for fighting with a bladed weapon.
- (He lifted the hand that holds his sword to give a command.)
- (Damage to the hand used for wielding a sword made combat difficult.)
- (The hand that grips the sword is conditioned for battle.)
"to lose one's sword-hand": to suffer an injury or become unable to use the dominant fighting hand.
- After the wound, he lost his sword-hand and had to learn to fight with his left. (He could no longer use his primary hand for combat.)
"sword-hand of the king": a poetic or metaphorical phrase referring to a king's chief military commander or champion.
- The general was called the sword-hand of the king, for he carried out all royal battles. (He was the king's foremost warrior.)
Sword (n): a weapon with a long metal blade and a hilt, used for cutting or thrusting.
- He drew his sword from its scabbard. (He pulled out his blade.)
Hand (n): the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the palm, fingers, and thumb.
- She held the letter in her left hand. (She grasped it with her left palm and fingers.)
- Dominant hand: the hand a person naturally uses for most tasks (often the right hand).
- Weapon hand: a general term for the hand used to hold a weapon.
Sword-hand of justice: a metaphorical expression for the arm of the law or the enforcer of legal punishment.
- The sheriff acted as the sword-hand of justice in the frontier town. (He carried out the law's decisions by force if needed.)
To stay one's sword-hand: to refrain from striking or attacking.
- The commander ordered his men to stay their sword-hands until the signal. (They were told to hold back from attacking.)