Spada da lato

{{Short description|Renaissance-era sword type}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}

{{More citations needed|date=September 2017}}

File:Rapiere-img 0097.jpg.]]

The spada da lato (Italian) or side-sword is a type of sword popular in Italy during the Renaissance. It is a continuation of the medieval knightly sword, and the immediate predecessor, or early form, of the rapier of the early modern period. Side-swords were used concurrently with rapiers as well, particularly for military applications, although differentiating swords between civilian and military use was not something that was done in the period when a soldier had to arm himself. Its use was taught in the Dardi school of Italian fencing and others, and was influential on the classical rapier fencing of the 17th century.{{Cite web |title=The Weapon Arts - Sidesword |url=https://www.academieduello.com/school/the-arts/weapons/weapon-arts/sidesword/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401035602/http://www.academieduello.com/school/the-arts/weapons/weapon-arts/sidesword/ |archive-date=1 April 2017 |access-date=17 September 2017 |website=academieduello.com |publisher=AcademieDuello swordfighting school}} The equivalent Spanish term, espada ropera ("dress sword") is seen as the origin of the term rapier, although this is disputed.https://davidbiggs.substack.com/p/what-is-a-rapier-anyway

Italian antiquarians use the term spada da lato for rapiers typical of the period of c. 1560–1630, the Italian term for the fully developed rapier of the later 17th century is spada da lato striscia, or just spada striscia "strip-sword".,{{Cite web |last=Goodwin |first=William |title=Review of a Venetian sidesword replica |url=https://myarmoury.com/review_dw_ss.html |access-date=17 September 2017 |website=myarmoury.com }} but the term rapier or rapiera is also used in modern Italian.