Poignard vs. dague
The French terms 'poignard' and 'dague' both refer to types of daggers, which are short, sharp-pointed knives. These words are often used interchangeably but have slight nuances that distinguish them.
Poignard
A 'poignard' is typically a slim, light stabbing knife with a pointed blade.
Le chevalier a utilisé son poignard pour ouvrir la lettre scellée.
(The knight used his dagger to open the sealed letter.)
L'assassin cachait un poignard dans sa botte.
(The assassin was hiding a dagger in his boot.)
Dans le musée, on peut voir un ancien poignard orné de joyaux.
(The museum features an ancient jeweled dagger.)
Dague
A 'dague' is a broader and sometimes longer type of dagger that could be used for stabbing and cutting.
Le chasseur portait une dague à sa ceinture pour écorcher le gibier.
(The hunter wore a dagger on his belt to skin the game.)
La dague du roi était incrustée de pierres précieuses et avait une lame double tranchant.
(The king's dagger was encrusted with precious stones and had a double-edged blade.)
La dague médiévale trouvée lors de la fouille archéologique était en excellent état.
(The medieval dagger found during the archaeological dig was in excellent condition.)
Summary
While both 'poignard' and 'dague' can be described as types of daggers, 'poignard' usually refers to a slim stabbing weapon, often with a single-edged blade, whereas 'dague' tends to describe a broader and versatile weapon that could be used for both stabbing and cutting. Historical and cultural contexts might also influence the use of these terms when referring to different styles of daggers across periods and regions.