The khopesh ('; also vocalized khepesh) is an Egyptian sickle-shaped sword that developed from battle axes. and was introduced in the Second Intermediate Period. The khopesh became more common in the New Kingdom, and is often depicted with kings in statues and murals.
Etymology
The word khopesh may have been derived from "leg", as in "leg of beef", because of their similarity in shape. The hieroglyph for ḫpš ('leg') is found as early as during the time of the Coffin Texts (the First Intermediate Period). However, on the 196 BC Rosetta Stone, it is referenced as the "sword" determinative in a hieroglyph block, with the spelled letters of kh, p, and sh to say:
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