Espada

Espada is a word used in Spanish and Portuguese that means sword. In these languages, espada is used to refer to swords in general and to swords of various types encountered in historical and literary contexts. The term has a direct comparable meaning in other Romance languages, such as Italian spada, and ultimately derives from the Latin spatha, the word for a broad-bladed weapon.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin spatha. It is cognate with Italian spada and other Romance-language terms for sword, reflecting a common Indo-European root for blade weapons. In Spanish and Portuguese, espada remains the ordinary word for a sword, while more specialized names exist for particular forms.

In cuisine and biology, the term espada takes on another meaning. In Spanish and Portuguese, pez espada or peixe-espada refers to the swordfish, Xiphias gladius, a large migratory fish prized for its firm flesh. The common name espada reflects the fish’s long, pointed rostrum, which resembles a blade.

Apart from weapons and fish, espada is also used as a surname in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions, and appears in various cultural and brand names. In literature, heraldry, and popular culture, the word retains its primary sense as a symbol of swordcraft and martial tradition.