Swashbuckler - Definition and Overview

A Swashbuckler is a term that came about in the 16th century and was applied to "rough, noisy, boastful swordsman". To swash is to "swagger and swing about, making a lot of noise" and a buckler is "a shield". The stock character Miles Glorioso is a swashbuckler.

The tradition has survived to this day as applied to such literary and film fare as the novels of Rafael Sabatini and the films of Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks, as well as in works of sword and sorcery and fantasy. Many works of adventure of all sorts, such as Treasure Island and the films of John Wayne, are also in the swashbuckling tradition.

This showiness is particularly appropriate as regards stage fighting, which has more in common with the art of fencing, where the idea is to go through the motions of fighting without the sword touching the body, while real swordfighting aims at bodily harm.