punji stake

[ poon-jee, puhn- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a sharp bamboo stake concealed in high grass at an angle so as to gash the feet and legs of enemy soldiers and often coated with excrement so as to cause an infected wound.

Discover More

Word History and Origins

First recorded in 1870–75; earlier punjee, panja, perhaps from Chingpaw, a Tibeto-Burman language of the Kachins of northeastern Myanmar (Burma) and adjacent areas of India and China; the word is first attested in an account of these people

Word of the Day

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse