quillon

quillon (plural quillons)

1. The guard of a sword or other bladed weapon designed to protect the hand from harm.
   • 1884, Robert F. Burton, The Book of the Sword, page 125:

     The quillons may be either straight (fig. 109) — that is, disposed at right angles — or curved (fig. 107).

   • 1885, Egerton Castle, Schools and Masters of Fence: From the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century, page 233:

     With regard to the quillons, it was obvious that with slight alteration they might be made to protect the hand very much more than they did in their straight condition.

• crossguard
• hilt