---
title: halberd — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «halberd» in the school dictionary: An old weapon used from about the 1300s to the 1600s: a long wooden pole with an axe blade, a sharp spike on top and often a hook at the back. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# halberd

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** guards, guard, Swiss Guard, Soldiers, halberd, We · **What happens:** use, carry, hold, march down, chop, stab · **To what, where:** old weapon, 1300s, ceremonial weapon, Vatican, long halberd, halberds

<!-- .vabout -->
«halberd» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [halberd in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/halberd.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An old weapon used from about the 1300s to the 1600s: a long wooden pole with an axe blade, a sharp spike on top and often a hook at the back.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:m1:1
# text = An old weapon used from about the 1300s to the 1600s: a long wooden pole with an axe blade, a sharp spike on top and often a hook at the back.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	weapon	weapon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
4	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	about	about	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	1300s	1300	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	4	obl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	1600s	1600	NOUN	NNS	Number=Ptan|NumForm=Combi|NumType=Card	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	wooden	wooden	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	pole	pole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
17	with	with	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	axe	axe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	_
20	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	spike	spike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
25	on	on	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
26	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	_
27	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
28	often	often	ADV	RB	_	30	advmod	_	_
29	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	hook	hook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	_
31	at	at	ADP	IN	_	33	case	_	_
32	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	33	det	_	_
33	back	back	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	30	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	16	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a old weapon *not said here* |  | the 1300s to the 1600s |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Today a ceremonial weapon carried by some guards, for example the Swiss Guard at the Vatican.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:m2:1
# text = Today a ceremonial weapon carried by some guards, for example the Swiss Guard at the Vatican.
1	Today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	ceremonial	ceremonial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	weapon	weapon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	carried	carry	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	det	_	_
8	guards	guard	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	Swiss	Swiss	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	Guard	Guard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	_
15	at	at	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	Vatican	Vatican	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | participle · passive | some guards | a ceremonial weapon |  | the Vatican | today | for example; the Swiss Guard *obl:unmarked* | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The guard at the castle gate held a long halberd.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:x1:1
# text = The guard at the castle gate held a long halberd.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	guard	guard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	gate	gate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	halberd	halberd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | the guard at the castle gate | a long halberd |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent halberd=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Swiss Guard still carry halberds at the Vatican.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:x2:1
# text = The Swiss Guard still carry halberds at the Vatican.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Swiss	Swiss	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Guard	Guard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
4	still	still	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	carry	carry	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	halberds	halberd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	Vatican	Vatican	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **carry** | present | the Swiss Guard | halberds |  | the Vatican | still |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent halberd=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Soldiers with halberds marched Toad down to the dungeon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:x3:1
# text = Soldiers with halberds marched Toad down to the dungeon.
1	Soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	with	with	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
3	halberds	halberd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	nmod	_	_
4	marched	march	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	Toad	Toad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	dungeon	dungeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **march down** | past | Soldiers with halberds | Toad |  | the dungeon |  | down *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V NP PP.trajectory»: agent=Agent toad=Theme to dungeon=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A halberd could chop, stab and hook a rider off his horse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:x4:1
# text = A halberd could chop, stab and hook a rider off his horse.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	halberd	halberd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	chop	chop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
6	stab	stab	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	conj	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	hook	hook	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	rider	rider	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
11	off	off	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	13	nmod:poss	_	_
13	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **chop** | could | a halberd |  |  |  |  |  | vn carve-21.2-2 «NP V ADVP-Middle»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **stab** | infinitive | a halberd *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn poison-42.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **hook** | infinitive | a halberd *not said here* | a rider |  |  |  | off halberd's horse | vn coil-9.6-1 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent rider=Theme off horse=Destination |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We saw a rusty halberd in the museum.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:x5:1
# text = We saw a rusty halberd in the museum.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	saw	see	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	rusty	rusty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	halberd	halberd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | past | We | a rusty halberd |  | the museum |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer halberd=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The knight ducked under the halberd's blade.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:x6:1
# text = The knight ducked under the halberd's blade.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	ducked	duck	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	under	under	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	halberd	halberd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	's	's	PART	POS	_	6	case	_	_
8	blade	blade	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **duck** | participle |  | the knight *not said here* |  | the halberd's blade |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He could even see soldiers walking about with halberds.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:halberd:x7:1
# text = He could even see soldiers walking about with halberds.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	even	even	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	_
6	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
7	about	about	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	halberds	halberd	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | could | He | soldiers |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer soldier=Stimulus |
| 2 | **walk** | gerund | soldiers *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with halberds; about *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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