hilt
n.the handle of a sword or knife. It is the part you hold to use the weapon.
n.the handle of a sword, dagger, or similar weapon. Often refers to the specific part designed for gripping and controlling the blade.
“He tightened the grip on the hilt of his sword.”
“The knight inspected the hilt of his blade for any signs of wear before the tournament began.”
“The artisan spent months carving intricate patterns into the hilt of the ceremonial dagger, ensuring that the weight was perfectly balanced for the performer's hand.”
From Middle English hilt, hilte, from Old English hilt, hilte, from Proto-Germanic heltą, heltǭ, heltō, hiltijō, (compare Old Norse hjalt, Old High German helza, Old Saxon helta), from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“to strike, cut”) (see holt).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.