sjambok

American  

[sham-bok, -buhk] / ʃæmˈbɒk, -ˈbʌk /

noun

1. (in southern Africa) a heavy whip, usually of rhinoceros hide.

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verb (used with object)

1. to whip with or as if with such a whip.

sjambok British  

/ -bɒk, ˈʃæmbʌk /

noun

1. a heavy whip of rhinoceros or hippopotamus hide

2. a stiff synthetic version of this, used in crowd control

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verb

1. (tr) to strike or beat with such a whip

Etymology

Origin of sjambok

1820–30; < Afrikaans s ( j ) ambok < Malay cambuk whip < Hindi cābuk

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sjambok

The sjambok dear to the Boer soul is that made out of rhinoceros hide.

From Campaign Pictures of the War in South Africa (1899-1900) Letters from the Front by Hales, A. G. (Alfred Greenwood)

I thought, maybe, there was some stray cattle beyond, and I set off after him with the sjambok.

From Tales from the Veld by Glanville, Ernest

When he had finished zu Pfeiffer arose languidly, lighted a fresh cigar, adjusted his helmet with care, took a gold-mounted sjambok from his servant, and strode across the square.

From Witch-Doctors by Beadle, Charles

Across the scrub and veld Dick pointed with his sjambok to the white Outspreading tent, then to the wattle belt That marshalled thinly in the shimmering light.

From Provocations by Bristowe, Sibyl

Then, with a sort of sob, he snatched up the axe, and I’m blowed if he didn’t cut that sjambok into a thousand bits.

From Tales from the Veld by Glanville, Ernest