a weapon with a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard, used for thrusting or striking and now typically worn as part of ceremonial dress.
(the sword) literary military power, violence, or destruction:not many perished by the sword
(swords) one of the suits in a tarot pack.
beat (or turn) swords into ploughshares
devote resources to peaceful rather than warlike ends.
[with biblical allusion to Is. 2:4 and Mic. 4:3]
fall on one's sword
assume responsibility or blame on behalf of other people, especially by resigning from a position:he heroically fell on his sword, insisting that it was his decision
he who lives by the sword dies by the sword
proverb those who commit violent acts must expect to suffer violence themselves.