WordGarden.iohilt
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈɪlt/
US
- /ˈhɪlt/
Meanings
Noun
the handle of a sword, dagger, or similar weapon
used in the phrase "to the hilt" to mean completely or to the fullest extent
Beyond the definition
The hilt is the handle of a sword, dagger, or similar blade. It is the part you hold, and it helps you control the weapon and protect your hand. If you picture a knight holding a sword, their hand is wrapped around the hilt, not the blade. In everyday English, this word often appears in the phrase "to the hilt," which means completely or to the fullest degree. If someone defends a friend to the hilt, they defend that friend with total commitment.
The hilt is the handle section of a bladed weapon, especially a sword or dagger. It is the part made for the hand, and it often includes the grip, the guard, and the pommel. Together, these parts help the user hold the weapon securely, control its movement, and keep the hand safer. When people describe an old sword in stories, films, or history books, the hilt is often shown as a detailed and important part of the weapon, sometimes plain and practical, sometimes richly decorated.
Beyond the physical object, "hilt" is best known in the idiom "to the hilt." This means fully, completely, or as much as possible. A person might support an idea to the hilt, defend themselves to the hilt, or use a resource to the hilt. The image behind the phrase is of something going all the way up to the handle, leaving no more room. So while the literal meaning belongs to swords and other blades, the word also has a strong figurative use in everyday English.
Examples
- 1
Weapon part
She rested her hand on the hilt of her sword as the door opened.
- 2
Fully armed
The guards at the gate were armed to the hilt.
- Phraseto the hilt
completely or as much as possible
- 3
Strong defense
Even after the scandal, his sister defended him to the hilt.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- hiltnoun
Forms
- hiltspluralnoun