1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 51.:
Halberts differ very little from the bill, being like them constructed both for pushing and cutting: a halbert consists of three parts, the spear, or sometimes a kind of sword blade for pushing, an ax, or hatchet for striking and cutting, and a flook or hook for pulling down fascines, in the attack of trenches, or temporary fortifications.