Knobstick

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈnɒbstɪk/

Definitions

1. A long rod with a rounded handle at one end, utilized for providing support or as an instrument for striking
2. A stick that terminates in a rounded projection, mainly employed for aiding mobility or serving as a weapon
3. A long staff with a smooth, rounded top used to help walking or for hitting someone

Etymology: "Knobstick" is a plain compound of "knob" and "stick", two words that have been English since Old English times. "Knob" originally meant a rounded lump or protuberance, and "stick" a piece of wood cut from a tree, so the combined term names a stick with a knob on one end. Its literal sense is therefore a description of its shape rather than of its use. The word's meaning has been shaped mostly by the second element's use as a weapon. The rounded head made the stick useful for striking, and the same design offered a sturdy grip for leaning on, which explains why the term is glossed both as a support and as an instrument for blows. Nothing in the source sets a date for when the compound first appeared, so the word's exact history beyond its two parts is not recorded here.