The term Karabela refers to a specific type of decorated sabre that was popular in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It is distinguished by its unique aesthetic features, most notably a handle stylized as the head of a bird and an open crossguard.
Polish fencer Wojciech Zabłocki provides the formal definition for this weapon type based on these stylistic characteristics. While it served as a functional sword, it was also recognized for its decorative craftsmanship within historical Polish culture.