The term "halberd" has been used to translate several Old Norse words relating to polearms (specifically the atgeir) in the context of Viking Age arms and armour, and in scientific literature about the Viking age. The term "halberd" is not to be taken as referring to the classical Swiss halberd of the 15th century, but rather in its literal sense of "axe-on-a-pole", describing a weapon of the more general glaive type.