The cutlass developed after the 16th century as a purely cutting/slashing weapon. By definition, the cutlass was a curved
European blade with a plain, guarded hilt, similar in shape and use to the saber. The cutlass descended in design from the
Turkish scimitar and Egyptian khopesh; in fact, the name cutlass derives from the term curtle-axe which is an Anglicization of
the Turkish “curtus” and axe. Cutlasses were most popular among naval infantry soldiers.