noun
long sword; large sword
Refers to a Japanese long sword, typically a tachi or a large katana, often contrasted with 小刀 (しょうとう, short sword). Used in historical, martial arts, and descriptive contexts.
侍は大刀と小刀を腰に差していた。
The samurai wore a long sword and a short sword at his waist.
この大刀は江戸
This long sword is from the Edo period.
noun
guandao; Chinese glaive
Refers to a Chinese polearm with a heavy blade, known as a guandao or yanyuedao. This usage is less common and typically appears in discussions of Chinese weapons or historical comparisons.
中国の大刀は、長い柄の先に大きな刃が付いている。
The Chinese guandao has a large blade attached to the end of a long shaft.