Macana

The term macana, of Taíno origin, refers to a number of different wooden weapons used by the various native cultures of Central and South America.

The earliest meaning attributed to "macana" is a sword-like weapon made out of wood, but still sharp enough to be dangerous. [Peter Martyr d'Anghiera, "Decades de Orbe Novo" (written in the early 16th century):
*"Cominus hi certant vt plurimum, ensibus oblongis, quos macanas ipsi appellant, ligneis tamen, quia ferrum non assequntur..." :"In hand to hand combat they generally use long swords, which they call "macanas", which are however made of wood, as they don't have knowledge of iron." (p. 127)
*"armatum ... arcubus putà & sagittis, machanísque, id est, ensibus amplis, ligneis, oblongis, vtráque manu agitandis..." :"...armed ... for example with bows and arrows, "and macanas"—that is, with large, wooden, long swords which are wielded two-handedly" (p. 180)] The term is also sometimes applied to the similar Aztec weapon, which is studded with pieces of obsidian in order to create a blade, though some authorities distinguish this item by using the Nahuatl name "macuahuitl".

In modern Spanish the word has broadened to refer to various types of blunt wooden weapons, especially a police nightstick.

External links

* [http://www.orinoco.org/apg/locollitem.asp?id=2438&lang=es Picture of a sharpened macana with no obsidian edge] (Spanish)
* [http://www.mexico-france.com/codices_esp.html Pictures] from the Codex Ixtlilxochitl featuring the "macuahuitl". (Spanish)

Notes