Arming Sword: after the 14th century, the single-handed weapon became known as a short sword or arming sword.
Bastard Sword: also known as a hand-and-a-half, these swords typically had longer handles which allowed use by one or both hands.
Blade Geometry: a common reference to the overall shape of the blade,  which is commonly followed by "Oakshott Type X". This terminology is used to define a blades historical origin, or reference for historical recreation purposes. Ewart Oakshott wrote a book based upon a lifetime of research into the origins, development, classification, usage and mystique of the knightly sword of medieval Europe. His last name is now used as a reference for his work, and is highly regarded.
Blade Heavy: the point of balance is too far forward from the hilt, making the sword feel heavier than it really is.
Broadsword: A term popularly misapplied as a generic synonym for medieval swords. The term did not take on the meaning of a wide-bladed medieval sword until the later 19th century. Since then, it has entered popular use by collectors, museum curators, fight directors, and authors.
Bokken: (Japanese) a wooden sword for practicing.
Bushido: (Japanese) the code of the samurai
Center of Percussion (CoP): the part of the blade that is least susceptible to vibration, and therefore known as the "sweet spot" of the blade.
Claymore: this two-handed broadsword was used by the Scottish Highlanders against the English in the 16th century.
Cross Section: the geometric shape of the flat side of the blade. Usually this is diamond shaped, and referred to as a "Diamond Cross Section". Also a reference point for the thickness of a blade.
Falchion: the falchion appeared in several forms, but mostly all forms have a single edge and rounded point or "clipped" point. This wide, heavy blade was weighted more towards the point, and could deliver tremendous blows, making it ideal for combating heavy armours.
Flamberge: An unusual waved-bladed rapier popular with officers and upper classes during the 1600s.
Frog: otherwise known as a sword frog, is a leather accessory that holds the scabbard to a belt.
Fuchi: (Japanese) collar on hilt.
Fuchi-Kashira: (Japanese) set of hilt collar (fuchi) and buttcap (kashira)
Fuller: a groove running along the flat of a sword blade. For a katana, this is known as the bo-hi. The purpose of this was to reduce weight, and change the balance point of a blade.
Great-Swords: are infantry swords which cannot be used comfortably in a single-hand. The term "great-sword" has come to mean a form of long-sword that is still not the specialized weapons of later two-handed swords.
Guard: or crossguard, is the piece between the blade, and the handle to help protect the hand. For a katana, this is known as the tsuba.
Habuchi: (Japanese) the line of the hamon.
Hamon: (Japanese) temper pattern along the blade edge of a sword. This is very traditional and a real hamon is highly sought after, signifying it is a folded blade forged by traditional practice.
Hilt: the handle of a sword. For a katana, this is known as the tsuka.
Katana: sword worn in the obi, cutting edge up.
Longsword: the Medieval hand-and-a-half sword, which forms the basis of most surviving Medieval fighting treatises. Longswords are the classic "hand and a half" or "war sword," of the 14th and 15th centuries. Between 4 - 4.5' long, and with an average weight of 3 - 4 lbs, the longsword was typically straight, double-edged, and with a simple cruciform hilt.
Mekugi: (Japanese) sword peg.
Nakago: (Japanese) sword tang.
Obi: (Japanese) belt sash.
Peened Tang: the tang of the sword comes through the pommel, and is peened so that the pommel is not going to slip off. This is a more historically accurate process. Some manufacturers now thread the pommel onto the tang. While this makes disassembly easier for maintenance, the pommel can become loose during use, and the tang is suspect to weakness.
Point of Balance (PoB): The part of the sword where the weight in either direction (towards the point, and the pommel) is equal. This is a commonly referenced terminology to help describe a swords handling characteristic.
Pommel: a knob, as on the hilt of a sword, is the end piece (or bottom) at the end of the hilt (handle). For a katana, this is known as the kashira.
Rapier: a long, double-edged, slender bladed, single-handed sword, designed to emphasize the thrust. Rapiers first appeared in the mid-16th century, and were used through the next century.
Riser: found in the hilt of a sword to better improve grip. This is usually done with wire underneath the leather wrap.
Saya: (Japanese) sword scabbard.
Scabbard: (otherwise known as a sheath) a case or covering for the blade of a sword, dagger, or the like. For a katana, this is known as the Saya.
Swordfodder: cutting targets for sword practice.
Tang: This is the extension of the blade that goes into and through the hilt of a sword. Often, when shopping for swords, you get a reference of "full-tang". This is to indicate that the sword blade and tang go all the way to the pommel of the sword. For European sword functionality, a full-tang is an absolute necessity for strength and safety. However, on a katana, construction is different and the tang is referred to as the nakago. The nakago is attached to the handle via the pegs known as mekugi. There are usually one or two mekugi holding a handle to a nakago.
Temper / Tempering: the process following the forging of a blade that strengthens the blade. For katana reference this is known as yaki-ire.
Tsuba: (Japanese) sword guard.
Tsuka: (Japanese) sword handle.
Two-handed sword: a specialized type of great sword that became popular in the 16th century. The size and weight of the weapon, made it unsuited for close formation fighting, and its use was reserved for banner defense, guarding breeches in siege warfare, and forming skirmish lines.
Waster: a wooden practice sword. Also called a bevin, bavin or cudgel.
Zukuri: (Japanese) sword.

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