Cloak and dagger
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Cloak and dagger is a term sometimes used to refer to situations involving espionage, mystery, or even assassination. The phrase dates from the early 19th century. It is a translation from the French de cape et d'epee and Spanish comedia de capa y espada. The French and Spanish phrases refer to a genre of drama in which the main characters actually wore cloaks and carried swords. In 1840, Longfellow wrote, "In the afternoon read La Dama Duende of Calderón - a very good comedy of 'cloak and sword'." Charles Dickens subsequently used the phrase a year later.[1]
The term may also refer to:
In music:
- Cloak and Dagger (album), by The Upsetters
- "Cloak and Dagger" (song), a song by Nik Kershaw
- "Cloak and Dagger", a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released on the Picture Disc version and the single of the 1989 album Headless Cross
In entertainment:
- Cloak & Dagger, a 1984 film
- Cloak and Dagger (film), a 1946 espionage film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Gary Cooper
- Cloak and Dagger (radio), an old-time radio program
- Cloak and Dagger, a book by Corey Ford and Alastair MacBain which was adapted into the radio show
- Cloak and Dagger (novel), a book by Tom Clancy
- Cloak and Dagger (comics), a Marvel Comics superhero duo
- Cloak & Dagger (video game), an Atari arcade game released in conjunction with the 1984 film
In Historical European martial arts, the term can be taken literally, and refers to wielding a dagger in one hand and a cloak in the other. The purpose of the cloak was to obscure the presence or movement of the dagger, to provide minor protection from slashes, to restrict the movement of the opponent's weapon, and to provide a distraction [1]. Use of the cloak and dagger was not considered "honest," in contrast to the sword or rapier, neither of which could be concealed.
[edit] See also
- "Cloak and Dagger Man", a song from the 1984 album Stationary Traveller by the British progressive rock band Camel
- "Cloak and Dagger", a song from the 1992 album Natural by the Swedish reggae band Kalle Baah
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