Assagais

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of spear traditionally used by indigenous peoples of Southern Africa, characterized by a long shaft and pointed tip designed for hunting and warfare
2. A long, pointed weapon historically employed by various African tribes, utilized for both throwing and close combat situations
3. Referring to a specific spear used in ancient African cultures, recognized for its distinctive design and practical applications in both hunting and fighting

Etymology: "Assagais" is the plural form of "assagai," a spear with a long shaft and a pointed tip, traditionally used for hunting and warfare by peoples of Southern Africa. The singular "assagai" is the word that carries the history, and it came into English by way of the Portuguese "azagaia," a word that the Portuguese picked up from Arabic "az-zaġāya," meaning a light javelin. The plural "assagais" simply follows the English habit of adding an "s" to form a plural, so it is the form readers meet when describing more than one such weapon.

Synonyms: spears, javelins, lances