Spatha

The spatha was a type of straight sword with a long point, measuring between 0.75 and 1 m, in use throughout 1st millennium Europe and the territory of the Roman Empire until about 600 CE. Later swords through about 1000 CE are recognizable derivatives, though not spatha.Origins of the spatha date to the late Celtic Bronze Age in Europe and the use of full-length bronze cavalry & charioteer swords by Celtic warriors during the Hallstatt era. These gave way to first iron, then the piled-rod composite iron/steel long swords of the La Tene era circa 2500 BCE. By the 3rd century BCE, the Celts were using pattern-welded long swords in Europe that would continue in use through the Celto/Roman era and eventually into the later Migration era [Pleiner (1993) The Celtic Sword]. Long-established sword making centers typically produced spatha sword blades in lots that would then be sold to the various recipients for final hilting. For this reason, it is often difficult to distinguish the weapons used by the Romans from those of their adversaries without some other contextual basis to go by, such as other artifacts in a tomb or burial, etc. Also, the Romans made extensive use of Celtic and later Germanic cavalry conscripts and mercenaries who often retained use of their traditional weapons while on campaign - even though they were serving the Roman army.
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n. spathe, large leaflike part covering a flower cluster (Botany)

(n.)
A spathe.
  

The cavalry sword of the romans, between 36" - 40" in length, made from iron . The shape of the hilt is unknown to us, as only a few blades have survived. These blades can easily be confused with their Medieval counterparts, which were of approximately the same length and shape. The Roman footsoldier wielded a much shorter chopping and thrusting sword called the gladius .

N F
flat stirrer; broad-bladed sword; batten for beating woof; splint; palm spathe