Both are single-edged curved swords, from different traditions and built for different fighting. A scimitar is the European name for the curved sabres of the Middle East and Central Asia, long and designed for cutting from horseback. A cutlass is short, heavy and broad — a naval weapon for close quarters.
The core difference
- scimitar — long, pronounced curve, light in the hand. Built for slashing from a horse.
- cutlass — short, broad, heavy, usually with a hand guard. Built for a crowded deck.
Length is the practical distinction
A cavalry sword needs reach: the rider is high and moving fast, and a long curved blade draws through a target as the horse carries it past. A shipboard weapon needs the opposite — a long blade is useless in rigging and among crowded men. The cutlass is short enough to swing in a confined space and heavy enough to cut rope and canvas as well as an opponent.
Scimitar is a European umbrella term
This is worth knowing, because it is not a name any of the relevant traditions used for their own weapons. European writers applied it broadly to curved Eastern swords, flattening several distinct types:
- Shamshir — Persian, a deep and even curve. The word means lion's tail, and is the likeliest source of scimitar.
- Kilij — Turkish, with a widened flare near the tip called a yelman that adds weight to the cut.
- Talwar — Indian, with a disc-shaped pommel.
- Saif — the general Arabic word for sword.
Using scimitar for all of them is roughly as precise as calling every European sword a rapier.
Why curved blades cut better
A curved edge meets the target at an angle, so the blade slices along its length rather than striking flat — the same reason a knife draws rather than presses. Straight swords compensate by being better at the thrust, which is why infantry traditions that fight in formation tend towards straight blades and cavalry traditions towards curved ones.
Where the words come from
Scimitar reached English in the sixteenth century through French and Italian, and the trail probably leads back to Persian shamshir — though the path is muddled enough that the derivation is not certain.
Cutlass comes from French coutelas, from Latin cultellus, a small knife — the same root as cutlery. Its resemblance to English cut is a coincidence that has helped it stick.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a scimitar and a cutlass?
A scimitar is a long curved cavalry sword from Middle Eastern and Central Asian traditions. A cutlass is short, broad and heavy, made for fighting on a ship's deck.
Is scimitar a real weapon name?
Not in the traditions it describes. It is a European umbrella term applied to several distinct swords — shamshir, kilij, talwar — that had their own names.
Why are cavalry swords curved?
A curved edge meets the target at an angle and slices along its length, which suits a cut delivered from a moving horse. Straight blades are better at the thrust.