tumi
Pronunciations
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/ˈtuː.mi/
Noun
A ceremonial axe used by some Incan and pre-Incan cultures of South America.
- Examples
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More examples (2)
The tumis are characterized by a metal handle, which can be bent at the free end or may have an ornament in the form of a button or a zoomorphic head; they also have a curved, sharp blade edge, forming a semicircle or half-moon.[…]The archaeological associations of the tumis found in Argentina indicate that these objects all had an Inca origin.
For instance, he makes sure that the reader is aware that the weapons taken by the Inca army, tumis, are ritual weapons used for the ritual hunt and slaughter of llamas.
Decorated tumis such as this one may have been used for ceremonial purposes, although their utilization on more mundane occasions should not be ruled out.
Word forms
tumis