Up to the Hilt Means All the Way In
A hilt is the handle of a sword. The idiom means completely, from a blade driven fully home.
A hilt is the handle of a sword or dagger, including the grip, guard and pommel. *Up to the hilt* means completely or to the fullest extent, from a blade driven in so far that only the handle shows. The phrase is recorded from the 1500s and is now used mostly of debt and commitment. The three parts each have a job: the grip is held, the guard protects the hand, and the pommel counterweights the blade so the sword balances near the hand.
- A sword handle. *A jewelled hilt.*
- Up to the hilt — completely. *Mortgaged to the hilt.*
- Pommel — the counterweight. *The pommel.*
- Guard — the hand protection. *The guard.*
- Old English — *hilt*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | hilt | A hilt. |
| Plural | hilts | Hilts. |
| Part | pommel | The pommel. |
| Part | grip | The grip. |
| Old English | hilt | A hilt. |
- His hand rested on the hilt.Sword.
- They are mortgaged to the hilt.Idiom.
- The pommel balances the blade.Design.
Parts of a sword
- Blade — the cutting part
- Guard — protects the hand, also called the crossguard
- Grip — where the hand holds
- Pommel — the counterweight at the end
- Tang — the blade's extension running through the grip
Old English *hilt*, of Germanic origin, related to Dutch *hilt*.
What does up to the hilt mean?
Completely, from a blade driven in so far that only the handle remains visible. It is recorded from the 1500s.
What does the pommel do?
It counterweights the blade so the sword balances near the hand, making it far easier to control.