<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">spontoons</topic></authority><related type="broader"><topic>leading staffs</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>espontoons</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>half-pikes</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>spontons</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>spontoon</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ Leading staffs with heads imitating those of various other staff weapons, but most commonly having a broad, pointed blade with a rounded base, often with two pointed lugs like a partisan or a crossbar like a boar spear. They were used in Great Britain and Continental Europe from the 18th into the mid-19th century by infantry subordinate officers, particularly English sergeants. ]]></note></mads>