Editing Assegai

{{short description|Wooden African javelin pointed with iron or fire-hardened tip}}
{{about|the type of spear}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2019}}
[[Image:An African soldier or 'Askari' on guard duty at No. 23 Air School at Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa, January 1943. TR1262.jpg|thumb|An [[askari]] guard at an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] air training school at [[AFB Waterkloof]], [[Pretoria]], South Africa, January 1943]]
An '''assegai''' or '''assagai'''{{efn|originally {{langx|ber-Latn|zaġāya||spear}}; {{langx|ar|زغاية|zaġāya}}; {{langx|fro|azagaie}}; {{langx|es|azagaya}}; {{langx|it|zagaglia}}; {{langx|enm|lancegay}})<ref>''The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language'', Fourth Edition. [[Houghton Mifflin]]: 2009. [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/assegai (TheFreeDictionary.com)]</ref>}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/assegai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328123723/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/assegai|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 28, 2019|title=assegai {{!}} Definition of assegai in English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=2019-03-28}}</ref> is a [[polearm]] used for throwing, usually a light [[spear]] or [[javelin]] made up of a wooden [[handle]] with an iron tip.

==Area of use==
The use of various types of the assegai was widespread all over Africa and it was the most common weapon used before the introduction of firearms. The [[Zulu people|Zulu]], [[Xhosa people|Xhosa]],  and other [[Nguni people|Nguni]] tribes of South Africa were renowned for their use of the assegai.

==''Iklwa''==
[[File:Zulu warrior.jpg|thumb|upright|Zulu man with the shorter iklwa]]
[[Shaka]] of the [[Zulu people|Zulu]] popularized the use of the shorter stabbing spear with a {{convert|610|mm|abbr=on}} shaft and a larger, broader blade {{convert|300|mm|abbr=on}} long in warfare, which was traditionally used primarily as a hunting spear. This weapon is otherwise known as the ''iklwa'' or ''ixwa'', after the sound that was heard as it was withdrawn from the victim's wound.<ref>[http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/therionarms_c1279.html Zulu 'Iklwa' war spear, therionarms.com]</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=McBride, Angus|author-link=Angus McBride|title=The Zulu War|year=1976|pages=[https://archive.org/details/zuluwar00mcbr_0/page/9 9]|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=9780850452563|url=https://archive.org/details/zuluwar00mcbr_0|url-access=registration}}</ref> The traditional spear was not abandoned, but was thrown from range at enemy formations before closing in for [[close quarters battle]] with the iklwa. This tactical combination originated during [[Shaka#Social and military revolution|Shaka's military reforms]]. This weapon was typically used with one hand while the off-hand held a [[cowhide]] [[Nguni shield|shield]] for protection.

==Botany==
It is also the name of a southern African tree ([[Curtisia|''Curtisia dentata'']]) whose wood was suitable for making spears or lances, most notably by the [[Bantu language|Bantu-speaking people]] of southern Africa.

==See also==
*[[Soliferrum]]
*[[Rarabe kaPhalo]]
*[[Falarica]]
*[[Pilum]]
*[[Battle of Amalinde]]
*[[Almogavars]]
*[[Shaka#Social and military revolution|Shaka's military reforms]]
*[[Curtisia|Assegai Tree]], ''Curtisia dentata''

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}

{{Africa Weapons}}
{{Hunting topics}}

[[Category:Throwing spears]]
[[Category:Javelins]]
[[Category:African weapons]]