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pugnale

dagger

noun poo-NYAH-leh Rare

Origin: From Latin pugnalis (of the fist)

Usage Note

Pugnale denotes a short, double-edged stabbing blade — a dagger or dirk. It appears in both historical and literary contexts and in the phrase colpo di pugnale (dagger thrust, or a stab in the back figuratively). The plural is pugnali.

Examples

"Il cavaliere portava un pugnale al fianco."

Natural Translation

The knight carried a dagger at his side.

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