nunchaku
1 synonym for nunchaku, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A weapon from Okinawa made of two sticks joined by a chain or cord.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
chainsticks
How to use nunchaku
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
swing nunchaku
a pair of nunchaku
practise with nunchaku
wield nunchaku
Nunchaku is a specialist term found mainly in martial arts contexts.
Etymology
The word was borrowed from Okinawan, where it names this two-part weapon. It probably traces back further to Hokkien, where a similar phrase literally meant a two-segment cudgel, built from words for two, joint, and stick.
Full origin of nunchaku →Frequently asked questions
What is a nunchaku?
It is a martial arts weapon made of two sticks connected by a chain or cord, originally from Okinawa, Japan.
Where does the word nunchaku come from?
It was borrowed into English from Okinawan, which in turn likely drew on an older Hokkien phrase meaning a two-segment cudgel.
Is nunchaku singular or plural?
Nunchaku is a singular noun; its plural is nunchakus.
