nunchuck

noun

nun·​chuck ˈnən-ˌchək How to pronounce nunchuck (audio)
variants or less commonly nunchuk
plural nunchucks also nunchuks
: a weapon that consists of two sticks joined by a short length of cord, chain, or rawhide : nunchaku
usually plural
For a time, he walked around with a set of nunchucks in a holster strapped to his leg, like a six-shooter …Patrick Redden Keefe
… surprised a pair of burglars, one of whom was carrying a knife and two nunchuks.American Rifleman

Examples of nunchuck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Take a look at Snoop Dogg receiving Bruce Lee’s nunchucks above. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 26 Sep. 2024 These include air rifles, paintball guns, combat gloves, billy clubs, swords, axes, slingshots, metal water bottles, aerosol cans, ladders, BB guns, pellet guns, nunchucks, shovels or other things that could be used to hurt people or damage property. Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 10 July 2024 One deputy, identified in the complaint as Daniel Rodriguez, used a pair of nunchucks to control Peters’ right arm, according to the lawsuit — and eventually applied enough force to break his wrist and sever two arteries. Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 10 June 2024 The incident prompted the Denver Sheriff Department to ban the use of specialized nunchucks for law enforcement officers. Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 10 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for nunchuck 

Word History

Etymology

probably representing Anglicization of nunchaku (with stress shift and deletion of final vowel)

Note: Alternatively, final vowel loss may reflect devoicing of -u in Japanese.

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nunchuck was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near nunchuck

Cite this Entry

“Nunchuck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nunchuck. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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