Scimitar A scimitar ( or ) is a backsword or sabre with a curved blade , originating in Southwest Asia ( Middle East ) . The curved sword or " scimitar " was widespread throughout the Muslim world from at least the Ottoman period ( but a lot of similar sword like Zulfikar , al - Mikhdham , al - Qadib . . . etc . were already used by Arabs ) , with early examples dating to Abbasid era ( 9th century ) Khurasan . The type harks back to the makhaira type of antiquity , but the Arabic term " saif " is a loan from Greek xiphos ( the straight , double - edged sword of Greek antiquity ) . The Persian sword now called " shamshir " appears by the 12th century and was popularized in Persia by the early 16th century , and had " relatives " in Turkey ( the kilij ) , the Mughal Empire ( the talwar ) . Names . The name is thought to be derived from the Persian word " shamshēr " which literally means “ paw claw , ” due to its long , curved design . The word has been translated through many languages to end at scimitar . In the Early Middle Ages , the Turkic people of Central Asia came into contact with Middle Eastern civilizations through their shared Islamic faith . Turkic Ghilman slave - soldiers serving under the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates introduced " kilij " type sabers to all of the other Middle Eastern cultures . Previously , Arabs and Persians used straight - bladed swords such as the Indo - Persian Khanda and earlier types of the Arab saif , takouba and kaskara . During İslamizaton of the Turks , the kilij became more and more popular in the İslamic armies . When the Seljuk Empire invaded Persia and became the first Turkic Muslim political power in Western Asia , kilij became the dominant sword form . The İranian shamshir was created during the Turkic Seljuk Empire period of İran . The term " saif " in Arabic can refer to any Middle Eastern ( or North African , South Asian ) curved sword . The Arabic word is ultimately derived from the ancient Greek " xiphos " , but it is not necessarily a direct loan from the Greek , it may have entered Arabic from another source , as both " saif " and " xiphos " go back to an old ( Bronze Age ) Wanderwort of the eastern Mediterranean , of unknown ultimate origin . Richard F . Burton derives both words from the Egyptian " sfet " . The English term scimitar is attested from the mid - 16th century , derives from either the Middle French " cimeterre " ( 15th c . ) or from the Italian " scimitarra " . The ultimate source of these terms is unknown . Perhaps they are corruptions of the Persian " shamshir " , but the OED finds this explanation " unsatisfactory " . The following are regional terms for the scimitar : Morphology . The curved sword , the sabre , is called muhaddab in Arabia and occurred after the Turkish Seljuk migration from Central Asia to Anatolia , popularizing the pre - existing Byzantine sabre designs for cavalry use , which influenced the entire region . The word shamshir is Persian and refers to a straight - edged sword as well as to a curved - edged sword , depending on the era of usage . The Indian " talwar " is a sword similar to the shamshir , with the exception of a broader blade , mild curve and a disk shaped pommel which provides a very secure grip . The sword is made from very hard wootz steel . The word " tulwar " literally means " sword " in Urdu / Hindi . The tulwar is unusual in that it can be used for thrusting as well as cutting . The " kilij " is a scimitar used by the Turks and the Ottoman Empire ; it appeared around the 15th century . The kilij is a unique kind of scimitar that has a slight taper down the straight of the blade until the last third of the sword , when it angles sharply and becomes deeper . After the First Barbary War , a bejeweled kilij was presented to the commanding Marine officer , thus beginning the tradition of granting , to all United States Marine Corps officers , the right to carry the ceremonial weapon as part of that tradition . The Moroccan " nimcha " is a scimitar used in the late 18th century , and is usually forged using the blades of older swords , dating from as early as the 17th century , and with blades from countries as distant as Germany . This created a wide variety of nimcha , and almost no two are the same . The Afghan " pulwar " is similar in blade design to the tulwar , but the cross guard on the pulwar angles in towards the blade to catch swords . Many pulwar hilts are engraved with ornamental inscriptions and designs . Use . Scimitars were used in horse warfare because of their relatively light weight when compared to larger swords and their curved design , good for slashing opponents while riding on a horse . The curved design allowed riders to slash enemies and keep riding without getting stuck as stabbing with straight swords on horseback would . Mongols , Rajputs and Sikhs used scimitars in warfare , among many other peoples . Many Islamic traditions adopted scimitars , as attested by their symbolic occurrence , e . g . , on the Coat of arms of Saudi Arabia . The earliest known use of scimitars is from the 9th century , when it was used among Turkic and Tungusic soldiers in Central Asia . The scimitar is also used in Saudi Arabia as an executioner ' s tool for beheading . Symbolism . The sword ( or " saif " ) is an important symbol in Arab cultures , and is used as a metaphor in many phrases in the Arabic language . The word occurs also in various symbolic and status titles in Arabic ( and adopted in other languages ) used in Islamic states , notably : Saif and " Saif al Din " " Sword of the religion " are also common masculine ( and male ) Islamic name s . The scimitar appears as a symbol of the Russian enemy in the Swedish / Finnish coat of arms of Karelia , which depicts two armored arms fighting with swords . The sword " sinister " symbolizes Swedish forces and the West , while the scimitar " dexter " symbolizes Russians and the East . Karelia has been a battleground between the Swedish and Russian empires for centuries . From this context , the sword and scimitar have found their way into the coat of arms of Finland , which depicts a lion brandishing a sword and trampling a scimitar . During the period of Russian sovereignty over Finland ( 1809 – 1917 ) , the scimitar was moved to the left paw of the lion , only to be returned to being trampled with the independence of Finland in 1917 . Swords related to Arabic Scimitar . Many swords are related to the Arabic Scimitar ( Sief ) External links . Saif almamaari 5 anith and Manyook