wakizashi

noun1

1. •
   A traditional Japanese shortsword, typically 30cm to 60cm (or nearly 12 inches to approx. 23.6 inches) in length, often used as a secondary weapon to a katana.

   • Hiro shoves Reason back into the zodiac, jumps in, and starts the motor. He doesn’t have time to untie the boat from the pontoon, so he snaps through the line with his wakizashi and takes off. — 1992