Bayonet vs. Spear — What's the Difference?

A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon. From the 17th century to World War I, it was considered a primary weapon for infantry attacks.

A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as bone, flint, obsidian, iron, steel, or bronze (or other type of stone or metal).

A blade attached to and extending from the muzzle end of a musket, rifle, or other firearm and used as a weapon in close combat.

A weapon with a pointed tip, typically of steel, and a long shaft, used for thrusting or throwing.

To prod, stab, or kill with this weapon.

A plant shoot, especially a pointed stem of asparagus or broccoli

(military) A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offence and defence. Originally, the bayonet was made with a handle, which needed to be fitted into the bore of the musket after the soldier had fired.

Pierce or strike with a spear or other pointed object

(engineering) A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.

A weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharply pointed end.

(transitive) To stab with a bayonet.

A shaft with a sharp point and barbs for spearing fish.

(transitive) To compel or drive by the bayonet.

A soldier armed with a spear.

A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offense and defense.

A slender stalk, as of asparagus.

A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.

To pierce with a spear or other sharp object.

To stab with a bayonet.

To catch with a thrust of the arm

To compel or drive by the bayonet.

(Football) To block (an opponent) by ramming with the helmet, in violation of the rules.

A knife that can be fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon

(Sports) To jab (an opponent) with the blade of a hockey stick, in violation of the rules.

Stab or kill someone with a bayonet

To stab at something with a spear or other sharp object.

To sprout like a spear.

A long stick with a sharp tip used as a weapon for throwing or thrusting, or anything used to make a thrusting motion.

A soldier armed with such a weapon; a spearman.

A lance with barbed prongs, used by fishermen to retrieve fish.

(ice hockey) An illegal maneuver using the end of a hockey stick to strike into another hockey player.

(wrestling) In professional wrestling, a running tackle in which the wrestler's shoulder is driven into the opponent's midsection.

A shoot, as of grass; a spire.

The feather of a horse.

The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.

A long, thin strip from a vegetable.

(botany) The sprout of a plant, stalk

(obsolete) A church spire.

(transitive) To pierce with a spear.

To penetrate or strike with, or as if with, any long narrow object; to make a thrusting motion that catches an object on the tip of a long device.

(gridiron football) To tackle an opponent by ramming into them with one's helmet.

(intransitive) To shoot into a long stem, as some plants do.

To ignore as a social snub.

Male.

Pertaining to male family members.

A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head or blade; a lance.

Fig.: A spearman.

A sharp-pointed instrument with barbs, used for stabbing fish and other animals.

A shoot, as of grass; a spire.

The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.

To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.

To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See Spire.

A long pointed rod used as a weapon

An implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish

Pierce with a spear;

Thrust up like a spear;