Forms: 7 sempitan, zampatan, 9 sumputan, sumpitan. [a. Malay sumpītan, f. sumpit (see prec.); in Du. soempitan.
The possibility of connection between the Malay sumpītan and Arabic sabaṭāna (see CEBRATANE, SARBACANE) has been suggested.]
A blow-gun made by the Malays from a hollowed cane, from which poisoned arrows are shot.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 199. They [of Celebes] all vse long Canes (they call them Sempitans) … out of which they can blow a little pricking-piercing quill.
a. 1680. Butler, Charac., Glutton (1908), 192. His Entrails are like the Sarcophagus, that devours dead Bodies in a small Space, or the Indian Zampatan, that consumes Flesh in a Moment.
1837. Newbold, in Phil. Trans., CXXVII. 427. The slender arrows propelled from the Súmpitan, or blow-pipe.
1844. J. Tomlin, Miss. Jrnls, 84. A tall, stout, young man with a sumputan, or, blow pipe, and a quiver of arrows in his hands.
1882. De Windt, Equator, 88. A hollow tube eight feet long called by the Poonans ‘sumpitan,’ the chief weapon of this tribe.
