Anglo-Saxon Scramaseax Orvin, class B

A seax in modern times is often called scramasax or scramaseax, from scrama "wound" (cf. German Schramme "flesh wound", Dutch schram "scratch") and sax (cf. German Sahs "dagger"). However, as the word scramasaxi is only used once in early medieval literature (in Gregory of Tours' History of the Franks), the general use of the term when referring to all short knives of this type is erroneous. The Saxons may have derived their name from seax (the implement for which they were known). The seax has a lasting symbolic impact in the English counties of Essex and Middlesex, which both feature three seaxes in their ceremonial emblem. More information...