Double handed fighter

[eric100]

In olden days there was a phrase for an individual who could fight with a sword using either hand. I know that its not ambidextrous and that we now use the word in a different context. Any one got any ideas?

[Quizmonster]

I wonder whether you are referring to the word 'sinister'. Nowadays, it means evil, ominous, underhand etc, but its original meaning in Latin was simply 'left' or 'left-handed'. In the same way, Latin for 'right/right-handed' was 'dexter' and that's where 'ambidextrous' - meaning 'both right' - comes from.

Personally, I'd say a swordsman who could fence with either hand would be described as ambidextrous. However, you might describe him as 'sinistro-dextrous' or 'dextro-sinistrous', I suppose!

[paulz]

Eric100 - excuse me for flippancy, but surely it'd be "The Winner!!" sorry couldn't resist ;+D

[eric100]

Quizmonster, Your on thr right line. Although it was'nt the word sinister it was a word that we use in a different context now. I don't dismiss ambidextrous its just not the word that was used. This may help, it was used by a perfomer at the yorvik centre.

[woofgang]

can you remember at all what the word sounded like or the first or last letter?

[woofgang]

I'm guessing ita a word like maybe "handy"

[treaclefight]

i am sorry, i dont know how this question bypassed me but i'll answer it for you now. a very clever manouvre indeed, to be able to throw the sword from one hand to the other during a fight to gain an advantage. it was indeed a skill that the vikings tried to use. people who could do this were called 'shifty'.

[eric100]

Thanks treaclefight. Because i could'nt get an answer i e-mailed the yorvik centre and they gave me the answer just as i recieved your answer.