spadassinicide

English

WOTD – 9 November 2008

Etymology

From spadassin + -icide, from Italian spadaccino (swordsman)

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ˌspɑd.əˈsɪ.nɪ.seɪd/
  • (file)

Noun

spadassinicide (plural spadassinicides)

  1. (rare) The act of coaxing someone, usually through insult, into initiating a swordsman's duel, and subsequently killing that person with superior skill so as to commit legal murder.
  2. (rare) One who performs such an act.
    • 1921, Rafael Sabatini, Scaramouche,
      Challenges are flying right and left between these bully-swordsmen, these spadassinicides, and poor devils of the robe who have never learnt to fence with anything but a quill.
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