battle-axes

[cocked hat]

Just been watching a programme about armour in the hundred years war(too much time on my hands).The presenter was describing how to use a poleaxe.The axe blade and spike are obvious enough but interestingly these weapons had the other end of the shaft fitted with a very sharp metal ferrule called the cue.This was for pushing into the eye-slits in the helmet and piercing the feet.
The word cue is apparently derived from the french queue which was the word used to describe the pigtail worn at the time by Chinese peasants and later seamen.
Interesting that our favourite weapon was also originally the favourite weapon of mediaeval knights in the 14th century.I shall view the match table differently from now on.

[totlxtc]

You learn something new everyday

[ADR147]

i did know that the word cue is from the french for tail (i am married to a french lady!) but as far as i was aware the reason for the term was that when the ball was stuck under the cushion and impossible to hit cleanly the players would turn the mace round and hit the ball with the tail - ie queue.