# bayonet

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbeɪənɪt/ · frequency rank #23,758

## Definitions
1. A blade mounted to the end of a long gun, originally with a handle inserted into the bore, now usually attached underbarrel.
2. A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
French Bayonne
Proto-Indo-European *-tós
Proto-Italic *-tosder.?
Late Latin -ittus
Old French -et
Middle French -et
French -ette
French baïonnetteder.
English bayonet
From French baïonnette, named after the French town of Bayonne, where the plug bayonet was invented.

## Easily confused with
- **Bayonne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bayonet-vs-bayonne)
- **barnet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barnet-vs-bayonet)
- **baronet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/baronet-vs-bayonet)

## Common misspellings (10)
`abyonet`, `baoynet`, `baynoet`, `bayoent`, `bayonett`, `bayonnet`, `bayonte`, `bayyonet`, `bbayonet`, `byaonet`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bayonet