dagger: [14] Dagger has an uncertain history. There was a verb dag in Middle English, meaning ‘stab’, which suggests that dagger may simply be ‘something that stabs’, but similarity of form and sense indicates a connection too with Old French dague ‘dagger’. This appears to have come via Old Proven?al or Old Italian daga from a hypothetical Vulgar Latin *daca, which meant literally ‘Dacian knife’ (from Latin Dācus ‘Dacian’). Dacia was the ancient name for an area roughly corresponding to modern Romania.
dagger (n.)
late 14c., apparently from Old French dague "dagger," from Old Proven?al dague or Italian daga, which is of uncertain origin; perhaps Celtic, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *daca "Dacian knife," from the Roman province in modern Romania. The ending is possibly the faintly pejorative -ard suffix. Attested earlier (1279) as a surname (Dagard, presumably "one who carried a dagger"). Also compare dogwood. Middle Dutch dagge, Danish daggert, German Degen also are from French.
例文
1. He drew his dagger and turned to face his pursuers.
彼は短刀を抜いて追いかけてきた人に振り向いた。
2.She was released from prison in a cloak and dagger operation yesterday.
昨日の秘密行動で刑務所から釈放された。
3.This sound，like all music，pierced my heart like a dagger .
この音はすべての音楽のように短剣のように私の心を突き刺す。
4.The dagger stuck tightly in the silver scabbard.