Tintin Forums

in unicorn haddock posseses a weapon which once also belonged to sir francis. this weapon seems to have many names.

1) everybody will think of it as a sword.

2) on reading the book, it is found to be known as a cutlass.

3) the coverpage-quiz in this site, calls it a saber.

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Many thanks!
The Happy Tintinologist Team

I think all three terms are correct, but become more specific in this order: sword, sabre, cutlass.

Sword is the generic term for any weapon with a handle, hilt and a metal blade that's longer than that of a knife.

Sabre (or saber in its American spelling) is the term for the types of sword which have a curved blade, sharpened on one side. (Sabre can also mean a type of tapered fencing sword, but that's not the meaning we're talking about here.)

A cutlass is a specific type of sabre, historically used by sailors and pirates. As far as I can tell from the dictionary, a cutlass's defining feature is that its curved blade is relatively short and wide.

So cutlass would certainly be a more specific term than sabre for Haddock's family weapon, and sabre would be a more specific term than sword; but all three terms would be correct.

Hope that helps!