assegai or as·sa·gai [as-uh-gahy] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for assegai on Thesaurus.com noun, plural as·se·gais.
- the slender javelin or spear of the Bantu-speaking people of southern Africa.
- 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.
- to pierce with an assegai.
Origin of assegai 1615–25; earlier azagaia Portuguese Arabic az zaghāyah, equivalent to al the + Berber zaghāyah assegai Related Words for assegai pistol, bomb, sword, gun, missile, cannon, rifle, machete, ammunition, firearm, knife, shotgun, revolver, catapult, dagger, spear, bayonet, ax, bludgeon, spike Examples from the Web for assegai Historical Examples of assegai
If I hurl my assegai at another, another hurls his assegai at me, and in a measure we are quits.
Basil King
Suddenly, without a sound, Bombyane shook his assegai and rushed straight at me.
H. Rider Haggard
Then one of them lifted his assegai and drove it through his breast.
Various
Then the guns were to be thrown down and we must charge with the assegai.
H. Rider Haggard
The Bushman hesitated, but finally lowered his assegai and accepted the gift.
R.M. Ballantyne
British Dictionary definitions for assegai assegai assagai noun plural -gais
- a southern African cornaceous tree, Curtisia faginea, the wood of which is used for making spears
- a sharp light spear, esp one made of this wood
Word Origin for assegai C17: from Portuguese azagaia, from Arabic az zaghāyah, from al the + zaghāyah assegai, from Berber