μάχαιρ-α [μᾰ], ας
(later -ης, dative -ῃ, [[ “PTeb.” 16.14 (2nd c.BC), NT.Luke.21.24, etc.)] NT+2nd c.BC+], ἡ, large knife or dirk, [[ 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 11.844, 18.597, 19.252; μ. ἥ οἱ πὰρ ξίφεος μέγα κουλεὸν αἰὲν ἄωρτο 3.271 ] Refs 8th c.BC+]; carving-knife, [[ 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 1.49, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.61, 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Equites” 489, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Respublica” 353a, etc.; κοπίδες μ. 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Cyclops” 242 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; sacrificial knife, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Pax” 948, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Comicus 91, “Michel” 832.52 (Samos, 4th c.BC):] Refs 5th c.BC+] —ἡ Δελφικὴ μ. a knife adapted to various purposes, [[ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1252b2, compare 5th c.AD(?): Hesychius Legal icographus ] Refs 4th c.BC+] see at {Δελφικὴ μ}.; proverbial, of greedy persons, because Delphian sacrificers claimed a share for the knife, [[ “App.Prov.” 1.94. ] Refs]
__2 as a weapon, short sword, dagger, [[ 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “N.” 4.59, 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 6.75, 7.225, 5th c.BC: Lysias Orator 13.87, etc.; an assassin's weapon, 5th c.BC: Antipho Orator 5.69 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; used by jugglers, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Euthydemus” 294e (_plural_), etc.] Refs 5th c.BC+]; later, sabre, opposed to the straight sword (ξίφος), [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “de Equitandi ratione” 12.11, compare “HG” 3.3.7, “Cyr.” 1.2.13, NT.Matt.26.52, etc.] NT+5th c.BC+]; οἱ ἐπὶ τῆς μ., of a bodyguard, [[ 2nd c.AD: Arrianus Historicus “Epicteti Dissertationes” 1.30.7 ] Refs 2nd c.AD+]; but, ἐπὶ μ. τασσόμενοι possessing power of life and death (jus gladii), Cat.Codex Astr.[[ 8(4).173 ] Refs]; μ. ἱππική cavalry sabre, [[ Inscriptiones Graecae 11(2).161 B 99 (Delos, 3rd c.BC). ] Refs 3rd c.BC+]