A mattucashlass is a type of dagger worn concealed in the armpit and primarily used for close combat, part of traditional Scottish male

Highland dress Highland dress is the traditional, regional dress of the Highlands and Isles of Scotland. It is often characterised by tartan (''plaid'' in North America). Specific designs of shirt, jacket, bodice and headwear may also be worn along with c ...

.Duane, William ''A Military Dictionary'' Philadelphia, 1810 It is also referred to as an ''armpit dagger'' or a ''sleeve dagger'' in English. In

Scots Scots usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: * Scots language, a language of the West Germanic language family native to Scotland * Scots people, a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland * Scoti, a Latin na ...

, the alternative name ''skene-ochil'' or ''skene-occles'' can also be found.

Etymology

The term mattucashlass derives from gd, biodag-achlais (, meaning "dagger" and "armpit") presumably via the dialectal by-form , which is attested in Shaw's 1788 ''Galic and English Dictionary''. It is also known in Gaelic as the ( meaning "knife"), from which the Scots term or is derived.

References

{{Knives Scottish clothing Daggers Ceremonial knives Blade weapons Weapons of Scotland Scottish Gaelic language

Etymology

See also

References