CUTLASS  , the

naval side-arm, a short cutting sword with a slightly curved blade, and a solid basket-shaped guard (see SWORD) . The word is derived from the Fr. coutelas, or coutelace, a form of coutel, modern couteau, a knife, from Lat. cultellus, diminutive of culter, a ploughshare, or cutting instrument . Two variations appear in English: " curtelace," where the r represents probably the l of the original Latin word, or is a further variant of the second variation; and " curtelaxe," often spelled as two words, "curtal axe," where the prefix curial is confused with various English words such as " curtan," " curtal " and " cur-tail," which all mean " shortened," and are derived from the Lat. curtus; the word thus wrongly derived has been supposed to refer to some non-existent form of battle-axe . In every case the weapon to which these various forms apply is a broad cutting or slashing sword .