Note 435 — Chapter VII · THE SWORD: WHAT IS IT?
Reading edition
The word is originally the Persian Shamshír (شمشير); but as the Greeks have no sh sound, it made its way into Europe curiously disguised. Jean Chartier (temp. Charles VII.) says, ‘Sauveterres ou cimeterres qui sont manière d’espée à la Turque.’ Sauveterre became in Italian salvaterra; and in England scymitar was further degraded to semitarge. I have no objection to scimitar, but scymitar is the older form.