mazzafrusto

Italian

Un mazzafrusto.

Etymology

Compound of mazza (“mace”) +‎ frusta (“whip”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mat.t͡saˈfrus.to/, [mät̪͡ːs̪äˈfr̺us̪t̪o]
• Rhymes: -usto
• Hyphenation: maz‧za‧frù‧sto

Noun

mazzafrusto m (plural mazzafrusti)

1. (weaponry) flail, chain mace
   • 1516, Ludovico Ariosto, Orlando furioso [Raging Roland]‎^[1], Venice: Printed by Gabriel Giolito, published 1551, Canto XXX, page 139:

     Orlando urta il cauallo, e batte e ſtringe; ¶ e con un mazzafruſto a l'acqua il ſpinge.

     Orlando spurs and prods and impels the horse ¶ and with a flail drives it to the water.

See also

• mazza chiodata
• mazza ferrata