A rapier is a long, thin sword you hold in one hand. The blade is narrow and comes to a sharp point. Books often say it has two sharp edges, and many rapiers did — though actually people used it mainly to stab, not to chop, so the point did most of the work.

A rapier一把rapier is a long, thin sword you hold in one hand是一種你單手持握的細長劍。The blade劍身 is narrow and comes to a sharp point又窄又尖，前端非常銳利。Books often say書上常說 it has two sharp edges它有兩側鋒利的刃，and many rapiers did而許多rapier確實如此——though actually不過實際上 people used it mainly to stab人們主要是用它來刺，not to chop而不是用來砍，so the point did most of the work所以主要是靠劍尖在發揮作用。

It belongs to Europe a few hundred years ago: the kind of light sword in stories about gentlemen and duels, not a heavy battlefield sword. You almost never see one in real life now, except in museums, films, and sport that copies old fighting.

It這種劍 belongs to Europe a few hundred years ago屬於幾百年前的歐洲：the kind of light sword in stories about gentlemen and duels是那種出現在紳士和決鬥故事裡的輕型劍，not a heavy battlefield sword而不是沉重的戰場用劍。You almost never see one in real life now現在你在現實生活裡幾乎看不到了，except in museums, films, and sport that copies old fighting除了在博物館、電影，以及模仿古代格鬥的運動裡。

People also stretch the word: a “rapier wit” is a mind that cuts quickly and cleanly, like that thin blade.

People also stretch the word人們也會延伸這個詞的用法：a 'rapier wit'所謂的「rapier般的機智」 is a mind that cuts quickly and cleanly指的是一種反應敏捷又犀利的頭腦，like that thin blade就像那把細劍一樣。