baldric

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baldric

/ˈbɔːldɹɪk/ UK
[ˈbɔːɫdɹɪk] UK
/ˈbɔldɹɪk/ US
/ˈbɑl-/ US, cot caught merger

Where it comes from

From Middle English baudrik, bauderik, baudry (“belt worn over the shoulder or around the waist for carrying a sword, etc., baldric; (by extension) type of leather strap”), from Old French baldré, baldrei, baudré (“crossbelt, sword-belt”) (modern French baudrier); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Frankish *balterād, from earlier *baltiraidī (“belt gear, belt equipment”) (compare Old Occitan baldrei, baudrat), from Frankish *balti (“belt”), from Latin balteus (possibly borrowed from Etruscan 𐌁𐌀𐌋𐌕𐌄𐌀 (baltea, “belt”)) + Frankish *(ga)raidī (“equipment”). However, the Oxford English Dictionary states that a derivation from balteus does not satisfactorily account for the bald- spelling in the various languages. Middle High German balderich, belderich, derived from the Old French word, may have influenced the Middle English form.

Sense 2.3 (“zodiac”) is from its resemblance to a belt ornamented with jewels (sense 1).

noun baldrics · baldrick · baudric · baudrick · baudricke · bauldric

A broad belt, originally of leather and often richly ornamented, worn diagonally from shoulder to hip (across the breast and under the opposite arm), which was formerly used to hold a sword, a bugle, etc., and is now chiefly worn for ceremonial purposes; also (loosely), any belt. But now how many men are there proude of that that is not theyrs at al? Is there no man proude of keping another mannes gate? […] [W]hat a brag-kyng maketh a beareward wͭ [with] his ſyluer buttened bawdrike, for pride of another mannes bere?
broadly, obsolete A (usually leather) strap from which the clapper of a bell is suspended. [P]aid to the Collermaker of Leawsam for a bawdricke for the great bell … … … iijs.
broadly, obsolete A necklace. Baldrike for a ladyes necke carcan s[ubstantive] ma[le]
figuratively, obsolete The zodiac (“belt-like region of the celestial sphere, approximately eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which includes the apparent path of the sun, moon, and visible planets”). [S]he [Astraea] hath novv an euerlaſting place, / Mongſt thoſe tvvelue ſignes, vvhich nightly vve doe ſee / The heauens bright-ſhining baudricke to enchace; […]

Translations

Every language

noun broad belt worn diagonally from shoulder to hip formerly used to hold a sword, etc.

Español	bálteo, tahalí, télamo
Português	boldrié, bandoleira, talabarte
Français	baudrier
Deutsch	Wehrgehänge
Italiano	balteo, tracolla
Русский	панталер pantaler, бандальер bandalʹjer, пе́ревязь pérevjazʹ
العربية	حَمَّالَة ḥammāla

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MLA

"baldric." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/baldric. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

baldric. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/baldric

Chicago

"baldric." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/baldric.

BibTeX

@misc{baldric_2026,
  title = {baldric},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/baldric},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}