noun
unsheathed sword; drawn sword
Refers to a sword that has been drawn from its scabbard, often implying readiness for combat. Commonly used in the compound 白兵戦 (hand-to-hand combat).
白兵戦では、白兵を手に敵と戦った。
In hand-to-hand combat, they fought the enemy with drawn swords.
白兵戦 is the compound meaning 'hand-to-hand combat' or 'close-quarters fighting', while 白兵 specifically refers to the unsheathed sword itself.
The term 白兵 literally means 'white weapon', where 白 (white) is thought to refer to the bare, unsheathed blade. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.