nunchaku
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of nunchaku
1965–70; < Okinawan Japanese version of a dialectal Chinese (Taiwan) word for a farm implement, probably neng-cak, equivalent to Chinese lyǎng pair(ed) + záo dig (a hole), i.e., two diggers; with 2nd element interpreted as zat, equivalent to Chinese jié section
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While stealing moments to train for an upcoming nunchaku scene — the signature weapon of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, whose writings inspired the project — Koji accidentally smacked himself in the head, he admits.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2022
“Clearly, my years of martial arts training paid off. Pulled my old nunchaku out of storage … like riding a bike,” Mr. Brnovich captioned the five-second clip.
From Washington Times • May 14, 2019
And from the counter he lifted a set of nunchaku and waved them in the air.
From Washington Post • Jun. 23, 2017
Now that police are realizing the limitations of Tasers, Orcutt said he hopes that with proper training the nunchaku could revolutionize how police detain unruly suspects.
From The Guardian • Oct. 27, 2015
She sighed as she put the battle-ax back, then flipped out a pair of nunchaku.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
