Crossguard

On a sword, the crossguard, or cross-guard, the individual bars on either side known as quillon,^[1] is a bar of metal at right angles to the blade, placed between the blade and the hilt, the bars protect the wielder's hand from being sliced and cut off in battle.

^ , (or more commonly "quillion".) a quillon is "either of the two arms forming the cross-guard" (OED). The term arises in Middle French in the late 16th century, and is adopted in English only in the 19th century. The French word is a diminutive of quille "bowling pin", itself a loan of German kegel.

[1] , (or more commonly "quillion".) a quillon is "either of the two arms forming the cross-guard" (OED). The term arises in Middle French in the late 16th century, and is adopted in English only in the 19th century. The French word is a diminutive of quille "bowling pin", itself a loan of German kegel.

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