Assagai
.
the slender javelin or spear of the Bantu-speaking people of southern Africa.
a southern African tree, Curtisia dentata, of the dogwood family, from whose wood such spears are made.
to pierce with an assegai.
Historical Examples
Jerry referred to a wound which an assagai aimed at his heart had that day inflicted on his nose.
The Settler and the Savage R.M. Ballantyne
Mr Pringle had just fired his rifle, and was reloading when the assagai struck him.
Six Months at the Cape R.M. Ballantyne
A third ran forward while Pringle was loading and threw an assagai at him.
The Settler and the Savage R.M. Ballantyne
Opposition was offered, and the officer in command wounded with an assagai.
The Settler and the Savage R.M. Ballantyne
He urged his horse to greater exertion, and kept stabbing at his pursuer with an assagai.
The Settler and the Savage R.M. Ballantyne
The young Prince Napoleon, whose dreadful death the reader may recall, was slain by an assagai.
History of the Negro Race in America From 1619 to 1880. Vol 1 George W. Williams
His Bootchuana companion at that time threw his assagai, which entered the lion’s back.
Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals R. Lee
I shouted, and, shield and assagai in hand, the black dashed to my side as if to defend me from some attack.
Charge! George Manville Fenn
I whispered, turning to him where he squatted with assagai in hand and his shield spread across his knees.
Charge! George Manville Fenn
noun (pl) -gais
a variant spelling of assegai
noun (pl) -gais
a southern African cornaceous tree, Curtisia faginea, the wood of which is used for making spears
a sharp light spear, esp one made of this wood
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