Melee weapon

A melee weapon is a weapon used in hand-to-hand combat such as a bladed weapon or a blunt weapon. The term Melee originated in the 1640s from the French word mêlée, which refers to hand-to-hand combat, a close quarters battle, a brawl, a confused fight, etc.^[1][2][3]

There are two basic divisions: edged weapons, of which examples include swords, spears, axes, knives, and shovels; and blunt weapons, such as clubs, hammers, staffs, maces, and flails.

See also

• Knife fight
• List of premodern combat weapons

References

1. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/melee
2. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melee
3. Oxford English Dictionary. 2015. mêlée. " A battle or engagement at close quarters, a hand-to-hand fight; a skirmish; a confused struggle or scuffle, esp. one involving many people. Also hist.: a tournament involving two groups of combatants."

• Michele Byam (2010-11-30). Arms and Armor, Discover the story of weapons and armor-from Stone Age axes to the battledress of samurai warriors. New York: Dorling Kindersley.