A Military Dictionary and Gazetteer / Comprising ancient and modern military technical terms, historical accounts of all North American Indians, as well as ancient warlike tribes; also notices of battles from the earliest period to the present time, with a concise explanation of terms used in heraldry and the offices thereof. The work also gives valuable geographical information. Compiled from the best authorities of all nations. With an appendix containing the Articles of war, etc.

by Thomas Wilhelm

Sword-fight. Fencing; a combat or trial of skill with swords.

Sword-knot. A ribbon tied to the hilt of a sword. In the United States, all general officers wear a gold cord with acorn ends, and all other officers, a gold lace strap, with gold bullion tassel; the enlisted men of cavalry wear a leathern strap with a bullion tassel of the same material.

Sword-player. A fencer; a gladiator; one who exhibits his skill in the use of the sword.

Swordsman. A soldier; a fighting man. One skilled in the use of the sword; a professor of the science of fencing.

Swordsmanship. The state of being a swordsman; skilled in the use of the sword.

Sybaris. A celebrated Greek town in Lucania, was situated between the rivers Sybaris and Crathis, and a short distance from the Tarentine Gulf, and near the confines of Bruttium. It was founded by Achæans and Trœzenians in 720 B.C., and soon attained an extraordinary degree of prosperity and wealth, exercising dominion over twenty-five towns, and, it is said, was able to bring 300,000 men into the field. But its prosperity was of short duration. The Achæans having expelled the Trœzenian part of the population, the latter took refuge at the neighboring city of Croton, the inhabitants of which espoused their cause. In the war which ensued between the two states, the Sybarites were completely conquered by the Crotoniats, who followed up their victory by the capture of Sybaris, which they destroyed by turning the waters of the river Crathis against the town, 510 B.C.

Syef (Ind.). A long sword.

Syef-ul Mulk (Ind.). The sword of the kingdom.

Sygambri, Sugambri, Sigambri, Sycambri, or Sicambri. One of the most powerful tribes of Germany at an early time, belonged to the Istævones, and dwelt originally north of the Ubii on the Rhine, whence they spread toward the north as far as the Lippe. The territory of the Sygambri was invaded by Cæsar. They were conquered by Tiberius in the reign of Augustus, and a large number of them were transplanted to Gaul, where they received settlements between the Maas and the Rhine as Roman subjects. At a later period we find them forming an important part of the confederacy known under the name of Franci.

Symbol. In a military sense, a badge. Every regiment in the British service has its badge.