knobkerrie

[ nob-ker-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a short, heavy wooden club with a knob on one end, used especially by native peoples of South Africa for striking and throwing.

knobkerrie

/ ˈnɒbˌstɪk; ˈnɒbˌkɛrɪ /

a stick with a round knob at the end, used as a club or missile by South African tribesmen

1835–45; < Afrikaans knopkierie, equivalent to knop knob + kierie, said to be < Khoikhoi kirri, keeri stick

C19: from Afrikaans knopkierie, from knop knob, from Middle Dutch cnoppe + kierie stick, from Khoikhoi kīrri

Confronting him was a big Zulu, equally muscular, and armed with a formidable knobkerrie and a small shield.

He was armed with nothing but a knobkerrie, with which he struck and parried with lightning-like rapidity.

His left hand bore his assegais and knobkerrie beneath the great dappled ox-hide shield; and in his right a yellow walking-staff.

In the right hand he held his only weapon, a kind of short but deadly knobkerrie, while his left hand rested upon his naked knee.

They had been armed with muskets, and each carried a heavy knobkerrie.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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