assegai

or as·sa·gai

[ as-uh-gahy ]

noun

, plural as·se·gais.

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)

, as·se·gaied, as·se·gai·ing.

1. to pierce with an assegai.

assegai

/ ˈæsəˌɡaɪ /

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of assegai¹

First recorded in 1615–25; earlier azagaia, from Portuguese, from Arabic az zaghāyah, equivalent to al “the” + Berber zaghāyah “assegai”

Word History and Origins

Origin of assegai¹

C17: from Portuguese azagaia, from Arabic az zaghāyah, from al the + zaghāyah assegai, from Berber

Example Sentences

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 BBC

The old man was a famous ingcibi, a circumcision expert, from Gcalekaland, who would use his assegai to change us from boys to men with a single blow.

From Literature

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

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

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