[ noun ] a straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges <noun.artifact>
Rapier \Ra"pi*er\ (r[=a]"p[i^]*[~e]r), n. [F. rapi[`e]re, perhaps for raspi[`e]re, and ultimately of German origin, akin to E. rasp, v.] A straight sword, with a narrow and finely pointed blade, used only for thrusting.
{Rapier fish} (Zo["o]l.), the swordfish. [Obs.] --Grew.
Yet the most memorable words were the hard ones, like the rapier word-play of poet Charles Barber's 'Death be nimble - life was quick' in St Pierre's 'Fairy Book Lines.'
"He will never yield to a simple majority vote," one says, adding, "It's a good trait to have when you're a genius." Others describe him as a man of privacy, independence and a rapier wit.
For a $350 fee, Waller trains actors in the art of dueling with such deadly weapons as rapier and dagger, broadsword and quarterstaff without committing mayhem on the stage _ but convincing theatergoers they're seeing the real thing.