Also -keerie, -kerry. [f. KNOB sb. + KERRIE, after Cape Du. knopkirie, -kieri.] A short thick stick with a knobbed head, used as a weapon or missile by South African tribes. Also extended to similar weapons used by other tribes, e.g., in Polynesia and Australia.
1849. E. E. Napier, Excurs. S. Africa, II. 82. The ‘knob keerie’ … hurled with unerring aim, brings the smaller animals to the ground.
1850. R. G. Cumming, Hunter’s Life S. Afr. (ed. 2), I. 231. Their [the Bechuana’s] arms … consist of a shield, a bundle of assagais, a battle-axe, and a knobkerry.
1879. Athenæum, 6 Dec., 731. Two aboriginal Australian skulls with occipital thickening, supposed to be induced by the blows of the native knobkerries.
1899. Howarth, Shield & Assegai, 93. The Kaffirs were armed with assegais and knobkerries.
