...the hilt of the small, sharp knife.
The men who wield the power are certainly backing him to the hilt...
James was overdrawn and mortgaged to the hilt...
She was in this right up to the hilt.
English dictionary. 2008.
hilt — /hilt/, n. 1. the handle of a sword or dagger. 2. the handle of any weapon or tool. 3. to the hilt, to the maximum extent or degree; completely; fully: to play the role to the hilt. Also, up to the hilt. v.t. 4. to furnish with a hilt. [bef. 900; … Universalium
hilt — [hılt] n [: Old English;] 1.) the handle of a sword or knife, where the blade is attached 2.) to the hilt completely support/defend/back sb to the hilt ▪ I m backing the PM to the hilt on this … Dictionary of contemporary English
hilt — [ hılt ] noun count the handle of a sword or DAGGER (up) to the hilt INFORMAL as much as possible, or to the highest level possible: Mike s colleagues were prepared to defend him to the hilt. The estate was mortgaged up to the hilt … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
hilt — [hilt] n. [ME hilt < OE, akin to ON hjalt < IE base * kel , to strike, split > L calamitas, harm, OE hild, battle] the handle of a sword, dagger, tool, etc.: see SWORD vt. to provide a hilt for to the hilt thoroughly; entirely … English World dictionary
hilt — O.E. hilt hilt, handle of a sword or dagger, from P.Gmc. *helt (Cf. O.N. hjalt, O.H.G. helza hilt, O.S. helta oar handle ), perhaps from PIE *kel to strike. Formerly also used in plural in same sense as singular … Etymology dictionary
Hilt — Hilt, n. [AS. hilt, hilte; akin to OHG. helza, Prov. G. hilze, Icel. hjalt.] 1. A handle; especially, the handle of a sword, dagger, or the like. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
hilt — ► NOUN ▪ the handle of a sword, dagger, or knife. ● to the hilt Cf. ↑to the hilt ORIGIN Old English … English terms dictionary
hilt — UK [hɪlt] / US noun [countable] Word forms hilt : singular hilt plural hilts the handle of a sword or dagger • (up) to the hilt informal as much as possible or to the highest level possible Mike s colleagues were prepared to defend him to the… … English dictionary
hilt — /hɪlt / (say hilt) noun 1. the handle of a sword or dagger. 2. the handle of any weapon or tool. –verb (t) 3. to furnish with a hilt. –phrase 4. to the hilt, fully; completely: armed to the hilt. {Middle English hylt, Old English hilt, hilte}… …
hilt — noun (C) 1 the handle of a sword or knife that is used as a weapon 2 (up) to the hilt completely, or as much as possible: mortgaged up to the hilt | I d back him to the hilt any day … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
