parang

American  

[pahr-ahng] / ˈpɑr ɑŋ /

noun

1. a large, heavy knife used as a tool or a weapon in Malaysia and Indonesia.

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parang British  

/ ˈpɑːræŋ /

noun

1. a short stout straight-edged knife used by the Dyaks of Borneo

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Etymology

Origin of parang

Borrowed into English from Malay around 1850–55

Example Sentences

That sam smith and kelly clarkson collab of breakaway 🥺 parang bagay din kay ate 🥰

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2022

Growing up in Trinidad to a musical family, Etienne Charles was exposed to three song traditions around Christmastime: the singing of church hymns, calypsos and parang, Venezuelan folk songs about the nativity sung in Spanish.

From Washington Post • Dec. 6, 2019

We hired a guide who led us up and down a sodden trail, a foot-long blade called a parang hanging from a scabbard at his hip.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2014

The headman of the group, one Jabu, unsheathed his parang.

From Time Magazine Archive

Aboo gazed into my face incredulously for a moment; then, picking up his parang and tightening his sarong, strode on ahead without a word.

From Tales of the Malayan Coast From Penang to the Philippines by Wildman, Rounsevelle