1 nunchuck | Definition of nunchuck

nunchuck

noun
nun·​chuck | \ ˈnÉ™n-ËŒchÉ™k How to pronounce nunchuck (audio) \
variants: or less commonly nunchuk
plural nunchucks also nunchuks

Definition of nunchuck

: 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

Sarafina Bush's deliberately tacky costumes are a hoot, and the frequent dance numbers, many of them incorporating martial arts moves (and nunchucks as well!), are a lot of fun. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Broadway Bounty Hunter': Theater Review," 24 July 2019 That vision comes down to mixing together worlds, with nods to privilege (a silver spoon jutting out from a model’s mouth) or sometimes stereotypical odes to Asian culture (a denim and suede purse made out of nunchucks). Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "Asai Is the Red-Hot London Label Delivering Clothes in Chinese Takeout Boxes," 12 June 2018 Officers seized high-capacity magazines, a pair of nunchucks and cocaine, according to Suttles, who said Selin Charmaholi’s brother, Sergey Charmaholi, 34, was allegedly responsible for supplying the drug. Andy Nguyen, latimes.com, "Weapons arsenal uncovered during probation check leads to arrest of Glendale siblings," 31 May 2018 Garcia followed him outside with a pair of nunchucks, and the two started brawling, Baytown police said in a release. Keri Blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Nunchuck-wielding man stabbed in back of head in Baytown," 25 Feb. 2018 Folks doing the killings in urban Louisville and in rural communities like Benton and West Paducah and Grayson, where Kentucky's school killings have taken place, aren’t using knives, swords or nunchucks. Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, "Any 'honest' talk about how to prevent school shootings has to include guns | Gerth," 26 Jan. 2018 Garcia allegedly hit Liepold with the nunchucks, and Liepold responded by stabbing Garcia in the back of the head, arm and hand, according to police. Keri Blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Nunchuck-wielding man stabbed in back of head in Baytown," 25 Feb. 2018 What follows is the film’s funniest scene, as the suddenly spry Amy, in an attempt to save her friends, refashions sausages into nunchucks and sandwich tinfoil into explosives. Teo Bugbee, New York Times, "Review: ‘Pitch Perfect 3’ Keeps the Songs but Loses the Plot," 20 Dec. 2017 Director Trish Sie, who is known for having overseen several of OK Go's intricate music videos, fails to make much out of the scuffles - sausages used as nunchucks? - or the accidental trashing of a pricey hotel room. The Washington Post, NOLA.com, "'Pitch Perfect 3' movie review: Oh, shut up, already.," 22 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nunchuck.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of nunchuck

1970, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for nunchuck

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.

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