Dirk

Japanese WW2 naval dirk

A dirk is a long thrusting dagger.^[1] Historically, it was a personal weapon of officers engaged in naval hand-to-hand combat during the Age of Sail,^[2] as well as the personal sidearm of the officers of Scottish Highland regiments,^[1] and Japanese naval officers.^[3]

Etymology

The term is associated with Scotland in the Early Modern Era, being attested from about 1600. The term was spelled dork or dirk during the 17th century,^[4] presumably from the Dutch, Swedish and Danish dolk, and German dolch, tolch from a West Slavic Tillich. The exact etymology is unclear.^[5][6][7][8] The modern spelling dirk is probably due to Samuel Johnson's 1755 Dictionary.^[9] The term is also used for "dagger" generically, especially in the context of prehistoric daggers such as the Oxborough dirk.

Naval dirk

WWII era Soviet naval officers' dirks

A thrusting weapon, the naval dirk was originally used as a boarding weapon and functional fighting dagger.^[2] It was worn by midshipmen and officers during the days of sail, gradually evolving into a ceremonial weapon and badge of office.^[2] In the Royal Navy, the naval dirk is still presented to junior officers; their basic design has changed little in the last 500 years.^[2]

The naval dirk (Polish kordzik, Russian кортик) became part of the uniform of naval officers and civilian officials in the Navy Department of the Russian Empire, and in the Soviet navy an element of the dress uniform of officers. Later, it became an element of other uniforms as well, e.g. of officers in the Russian and Polish army and air force, and of the police forces in some countries..

Highland dirk

Painting of George Gordon, 5th Duke of Gordon (1770–1836) in highland dress.

The Scottish dirk (also "Highland dirk", Scottish Gaelic: Biodag) is the traditional and ceremonial sidearm of the officers of Scottish Highland regiments.^[1] The development of the Scottish dirk as a weapon is unrelated to that of the naval dirk; it is a modern continuation of the 16th-century ballock or rondel dagger.

The traditional Scottish dirk is a development of the second half of the 18th century, when it became a popular item of military equipment in the Jacobite Risings. The 78th Fraser Highlanders, raised in 1757, wore full highland dress uniform;^[10] their equipment was described by Major-General James Stewart in 1780 as including a "musket and broadsword, to which many soldiers added the dirk at their own expense."^[10][11]

The modern development of the Scottish dirk into a ceremonial weapon occurred during the 19th century. The shape of the grip developed from the historical more cylindrical form to a shape intended to represent the thistle. Fancier fittings, often of silver, became popular shortly after 1800. The hilts of modern Scottish dirks are often carved from dark colored wood such as bog oak or ebony. Hilts and scabbards are often lavishly decorated with silver mounts and have pommels set with cairngorm stones. The blades measure 12" in length and are single edged with decorative file work known as "jimping" on the unsharpened back edge of the blade.^[12] When worn, the dirk normally hangs by a leather strap known as a "frog" from a dirk belt, which is a wide leather belt having a large, usually ornate buckle, that is worn around the waist with a kilt.^[13] Many Scottish dirks carry a smaller knife and fork which fit into compartments on the front of the sheath,^[14] and a smaller knife known as a sgian dubh is also worn tucked into the top of the hose when wearing a kilt.^[15]

See also

• Kindjal
• Knife fight
• List of blade materials

References

1. Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), Dagger, The Encylopaedia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. VII, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press (1910), p. 729
2. O'Brian, Patrick, Men-of-War: Life In Nelson's Navy, New York: W.W. Norton & Co., ISBN 0-393-03858-0 (1974), p. 35
3. The imperial Japanese navy, Author Frederick Thomas Jane, Publisher W. Thacker & co., 1904 P.276
4. Head, T.F. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology Oxford University Press (1996) ISBN 0-19-283098-8
5. Hoad, T.F. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology Oxford University Press (1996) ISBN 0-19-283098-8
6. Hensleigh Wedgwood, A dictionary of English etymology, 1859.
7. Collins English Dictionary 21st Century Edition Harper Collins (2001) ISBN 0-00-472529-8
8. Robinson, M. (ed) The Concise Scots Dictionary Chambers 1985 ISBN 0-08-028491-4
9. Johnson, Samuel (1755-04-15). A Dictionary of the English Language: In which the Words are Deduced from Their Originals; and Illustrated in Their Different Significations by Examples from the Best Writers. To which are Prefixed, a History of the Language, and an English Grammar. 1 (1 ed.). 17 Gough Square, London: W. Strahan. 597. DIRK. n. s. [an Earse word.] A kind of dagger used in the Highlands of Scotland.  In vain thy hungry mountaineers Come forth in all their warlike geers, The shield, the pistol, the dirk, and dagger, In which they daily wont to swagger.       Tickell
10. Browne James, A History of the Highlands and of the Highland Clans, Vol. IV, Edinburgh, Scotland: A. Fullarton & Co. (1838), p. 250
11. Grant, James, British Battles on Land and Sea, Vol. II, London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin (1873), p. 82
12. Fisher, Jay. "Custom Knife Embellishment". Retrieved 29 January 2015.
13. Van Witsen, Leo, Costuming for Opera: Who Wears What and Why, Volume 2, Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, ISBN 0-8108-2933-9 (1994), p. 133
14. Whitelaw, C.E., Scottish History & Life: Scottish Weapons, Glasgow, Scotland: James Maclehose & Sons (1902), p. 238
15. MacGregor, Geddes, Scotland: An Intimate Portrait (1st ed.), Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co., ISBN 0-395-56236-8, ISBN 978-0-395-56236-9 (1980), p. 40

External links

• Spotlight: The Scottish Dirk (myArmoury.com article)