flesh one's maiden sword

== English == === Etymology === Literally, to shed blood for the first time with a new sword; see flesh (“bury in flesh”), maiden (“virgin”), sword. === Verb === flesh one's maiden sword (third-person singular simple present fleshes one's maiden sword, present participle fleshing one's maiden sword, simple past and past participle fleshed one's maiden sword) (idiomatic, dated) To experience or succeed in combat or struggle for the first time, as in the military or in politics. === See also === first blood