Lochabern.
/lɒxˈabə/, /lɒkˈabə/, U.S. /ˌlɑkˈæbər/, /ˌlɑxˈæbər/, Scottish English /lɔxˈabər/ Scottish. Only in attributive use.
1. Lochaber axe n. now historical a type of halberd having an elongated blade with a hook behind it, of a type originating in or associated with Lochaber.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > halberd > [noun]
weyc1275
poleaxe1294
billc1300
glaivec1450
langue de boeuf1450
halberd1497
budgea1522
brown-bill1589
ox-tongue1611
partisan1611
Lochaber axe1618
feather-staff1622
halberd staff1687
battle-axe1709
ko1923
1501 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1900) II. 111 For ane batale ax maid of Lochabir fasoun..xiiij s.]
1618 J. Taylor Pennyles Pilgrimage sig. E4v Harquebusses, Muskets, Durks and Loquhabor Axes.
1643 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1643/6/77 That they be furnisched with halbert, lochwaber axes or jedburgh staffes and swords.
1666 in J. Maidment Bk. Sc. Pasquils (1868) 233 Some with a Lochaber axe Resolved to gie Dalziel his paiks.
1736 Caledonian Mercury 9 Sept. in Sc. National Dict. (1965) VI. 114/1 They threw stones in so violent a manner, and wounded several of those that attended the magistrates with Lochaber-axes and butts of muskets.
1773 R. Fergusson Poems 120 Frae a stark Lochaber aix He gat a clamihewit.
1814 W. Scott Waverley I. xvi. 238 Two wild Highlanders..one of whom had upon his shoulder a hatchet at the end of a pole, called a Lochaber axe . View more context for this quotation
1882 J. Walker Descr. Jaunt to Auld Reekie 179 Lochaber-axes of the city guard.
1918 Sc. Hist. Rev. 15 112 Another minute records the arrangement made for obtaining the sum necessary to provide three hundred Lochaber axes.
2009 C. Emsley Great Brit. Bobby iv. 96 The men..generally made their patrols armed with Lochaber axes or halberds.
2. Lochaber trump n. now rare a Jew's harp.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > other musical instruments > [noun] > Jews' harp
Jew's harp1481
Jew's trump1481
trumpc1550
juice harp1685
jaw harp1752
stang1808
guimbard1830
jawbone1844
Lochaber trump1863
mouth organ1877
mouth-harp1968
1863 N. Macleod in Good Words Jan. 297/2 He has two large ‘Lochaber trumps’, for Lochaber trumps were to the Highlands what Cremona violins have been to musical Europe.
1871 Notes & Queries 21 Jan. 52/1 The procession was headed by a piper..playing ‘The Land o' the Leal’, or some other mournful air, on ‘the Lochaber trump’ (i.e. the Jew's or rather jaw's, harp).
2010 Atlanta Jrnl.-Constit. (Nexis) 27 June 19 e Musical competitions include fiddling, harp playing, singing, dancing and the Lochaber trump (jaw harp).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1618