The naginata (なぎなた, 薙刀) is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese sword blades (nihonto) in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei (warrior monks). A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved blade on the e... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naginata
A mid-sized pole-arm topped with a curving blade popular in the Heian Period. Originally the weapon of a foot soldier, the naginata came to be known as the favored weapon of the warrior monks (SOHEI) and women. The naginata was not otherwise in general use by the 16th Century. Found on http://www.samurai-archives.com/vocab.html