51Թ

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View synonyms for

assegai

or ··

[ as-uh-gahy ]

noun

plural assegais.
  1. the slender javelin or spear of the Bantu-speaking people of southern Africa.
  2. a southern African tree, Curtisia dentata, of the dogwood family, from whose wood such spears are made.


verb (used with object)

assegaied, assegaiing.
  1. to pierce with an assegai.

assegai

/ ˈæəˌɡɪ /

noun

  1. a southern African cornaceous tree, Curtisia faginea, the wood of which is used for making spears
  2. a sharp light spear, esp one made of this wood
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of assegai1

First recorded in 1615–25; earlier azagaia, from Portuguese, from Arabic az ⲹ, equivalent to al “the” + Berber “a𲵲”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of assegai1

C17: from Portuguese azagaia, from Arabic az ⲹ, from al the + assegai, from Berber
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They have brought with them a traditional Zulu assegai spear and a British boot plate, which was found on the battlefield, for the museum.

From

In this case, the poet was too enraged to observe this custom, and he stormed into the house with an assegai, ready to stab both mother and daughter.

From

Many of the natives were shot or cut down, while several of the burghers received assegai wounds.

From

Their knob-kerries were held at the ready, their shields across their bodies, and each had shifted his assegai to the position used in battle.

From

His giraffe hide sandals, not needed till the thorns were traversed, and his little skin cloak, neatly folded, were fastened to one end of his assegai.

From

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