The hilt is the handle of a sword or dagger. It's the part you grip when you hold the weapon, usually made of wood, leather, or metal wrapped in cord or wire for a secure grip. The hilt includes the handguard (called the crossguard), which protects your fingers from an opponent's blade sliding down toward your hand.

When someone fights “to the hilt,” they're giving their maximum effort. You might study for a test to the hilt, meaning you prepared as thoroughly as possible. A lawyer might defend a client to the hilt, fighting with complete dedication.

In stories and history, hilts were often decorated to show a warrior's rank or wealth. A king's sword might have a hilt wrapped in gold wire with jewels in the pommel (the knob at the end), while a common soldier carried a sword with a plain wooden hilt. Knights recognized each other by their swords' distinctive hilts, the way you might recognize a friend by their backpack or jacket.