Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A pair of hardwood sticks joined by a chain or cord and used as a weapon.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun martial arts a weapon consisting of two sticks joined by a chain or cord
  • noun A similarly formed device, such as the Wii Nunchuk attachment.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Okinawan Japanese, probably from Taiwanese neng-cak, a type of farm implement : neng, two, paired (akin to Mandarin liǎng, from Middle Chinese liaŋ´) + cak, chisel (akin to Mandarin záo, chisel, from Middle Chinese dzak).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Japanese word, from Min Nan trad. 兩節棍, simpl. 两节棍 (POJ nn̄g-chiat-kùn, IPA: /nʌŋ˨˩tɕiat˥˥kun˨˩/)

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Examples

  • Cuomo, 554 F.3d 56 (2009), the panel considered (as relevant here) a claim by a New York attorney that a state law prohibiting possession of a chuka stick (also known as nunchaku, a device used in martial arts consisting of two sticks joined by a rope or chain) violated his Second Amendment right to bear arms.

    Confirmation Hearings Day Two « AAUW Dialog 2009

  • Another novel feature of the Maloney case is that it is not a challenge to the constitutionality of a gun control law; rather, it targets a New York state law on weapons control, so far as that law applies to a "chuka stick" (or "nunchaku").

    Latest Articles scotusblog.com 2009

  • I thought a zoobow was the same thing as nunchaku, but I could bewrong.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » What is a zoobow? 2010

  • Similarly, the statute refers to “knuckles of any substance” that can be “put to the same use with the same or similar effect” as metallic knuckles; nunchaku, zoobow “or any similar weapon” configured with two sticks connected by rope, chain, or wire; and shuriken or “any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown.”

    The Volokh Conspiracy » What is a zoobow? 2010

  • The semicolon use suggests that it is (or is very similar to) nunchaku.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » What is a zoobow? 2010

  • Similarly, the statute refers to “knuckles of any substance” that can be “put to the same use with the same or similar effect” as metallic knuckles; nunchaku, zoobow “or any similar weapon” configured with two sticks connected by rope, chain, or wire; and shuriken or “any similar pointed starlike object intended to injure a person when thrown.”

    The Volokh Conspiracy » What is a zoobow? 2010

  • The use of semicolons would suggest that a zoobow is a form of or alternative name for nunchaku.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » What is a zoobow? 2010

  • Edit: Looking at the statute again, it looks like they mention nunchaku and zoobows in the same set, suggesting any weapon made by fastening two sticks together with wire, rope, etc. would be banned.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » What is a zoobow? 2010

  • Perhaps the legislature can restrict all firearms so long as they permit some kind of “arms” to be carried — nunchaku perhaps?

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Second Circuit Due Process Victory for Connecticut Carry Permit Holders 2010

  • Zoobow is just another name for a nunchaku – courtesy of THR (The HighRoad).

    The Volokh Conspiracy » What is a zoobow? 2010

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