nunchaku

noun

nun·cha·ku ˈnən-ˌchək

ˌnən-ˈchä-kü

plural nunchaku or nunchakus

: a weapon of Japanese origin that consists of two sticks joined at their ends by a short length of rawhide, cord, or chain

—usually plural

Note: The sticks of nunchakus are traditionally hardwood, but modern versions are made of various materials including metal and plastic.

Essentially two 12-inch sticks bound together by a short, double nylon cord, the nunchaku (pronounced nun-cha-koo) obtained prominence in America in the '70s, when kung fu fighter Bruce Lee wielded it with furious grace in his cult-classic movies.—

William Plummer and Robin Micheli

called also nunchuck

Examples of nunchaku in a Sentence

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Most notably, an animatronic model of E.T.’s head realized $635,000, the robot from Lost In Space achieved $455,000, and Bruce Lee’s nunchaku from Fist of Fury sold for $162,500. —

Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2023 The resourceful killer double-fisting guns and nunchaku amid antique samurai weapons encased in glass. —

Jen Yamato, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2023 In one episode, Tray’s son, Shazad (Dante Hoagland), gets in trouble for bringing nunchaku to school. —

Michael Ordona, latimes.com, 30 May 2018 The suspect's 42-year-old son was arrested for disorderly conduct while intoxicate and obstructing official business; the latter arose from his hiding a pair of nunchaku, a martial arts weapon, he had been seen holding, police said. —

Bruce Geiselman, cleveland.com, 14 Oct. 2017