A sort of hanger, serving both as a weapon and a knife. An archaism for a cutlass. See the Gentleman in the Cobler of Canterburie, 1590:
"His cloake grew large and sid,
And a faire winniard by his side."
·noun A sword, or hanger. II. Whinyard ·noun The <<Poachard>>. III. Whinyard ·noun The <<Shoveler>...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
A sword. ...
Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose