Page "Classification of swords" Paragraph 39

When two-handed great swords fell into disuse, the terms broadsword, claymore and espadon generally were then applied to basket-hilted swords or backswords, a group of early modern sword types characterized by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand.

Likewise, the term spadone was corrupted into spadroon, and the term was applied to a type of stirrup-hilted sword.

The basket-hilted sword was a military sword, termed " broad, big, large or great " in contrast with the smallsword.