Word.ws English Dictionary

crossing swords

crossing swords is the present participle and gerund of cross swords.

Meaning of cross swords

Verb

cross swords (third-person singular simple present crosses swords, present participle crossing swords, simple past and past participle crossed swords)

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cross, sword., to place or hold two swords so they cross each other.
  2. To fight with someone; to duel.
    • I do not relish crossing swords with Pike's hook.1966 September 24, Brian Hayles, “The Smugglers, episode 3” (15:39 from the start), in Doctor Who, season 4, episode 3, spoken by The Squire (Paul Whitsun-Jones), via BBC
  3. (idiomatic) To quarrel or argue with someone; to have a dispute with someone.
    • You say that you do not see how you and I have crossed swords with the priests.1902, Richard Bagot, Donna Diana, published 2008, →ISBN, page 240
    Synonyms:
    lock horns
  4. (idiomatic, vulgar) For males, to urinate simultaneously such that the streams intersect.

Questions about crossing swords

What is crossing swords the present participle and gerund of?
Crossing swords is the present participle and gerund of cross swords.

Words near crossing swords in the dictionary

  1. crossing paths
  2. crossing someone's mind
  3. crossing someone's palm
  4. crossing someone's path
  5. crossing someone's T
  6. crossing swords
  7. crossing that bridge when one comes to it
  8. crossing the aisle
  9. crossing the floor
  10. crossing the line
  11. crossing the river

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: crossing swords (page history and authors); cross swords (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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