chape
/tʃeɪp
/noun
1 historical The metal point of a scabbard.The scabbard occasionally had sheets of silver or gilded bronze applied to it to protect the mouth of the scabbard and the chape....
- Figures in the Bayeux tapestry dating from the 11th century show swords being worn in scabbards on belts around the waist, with a hanging strap preventing the chape from dragging on the ground.
- As it reached the chape, it was again wound tightly in several layers to protect the more regularly damaged end of the sheath.
2The metal pin of a buckle.My husband's sword pommel glittered gold, the chapes and buckles of his belts flashed silver.
Origin
Middle English (in the general sense 'plate of metal overlaying or trimming something'): from Old French, literally 'cape, hood', from late Latin cappa 'cap'.