The word "bayonet" originally comes from the French word "baïonnette" which in turn is derived from Bayonne, a city in southwestern France known for its weapon manufacturing industry. During the 17th century, Bayonne was a significant production center for a type of knife with a blade that could be attached to a musket. These knives became widely used by French soldiers and gained prominence during a famous charge by soldiers from Bayonne at the Battle of Bayonne in 1655, where they proved highly effective against the Spanish troops. As the French soldiers became renowned for their use of these knives, the knives and the term "baïonnette" gained widespread recognition and eventually entered the English language as "bayonet".