The kukri, or khukuri, is the short sword (or possibly big knife) emblematic of the Gurkha soldier from Nepal. The blade hooks sharply away from the hilt, and looks quite fearsome. Despite this warlike appearance, the Gurkha, whether serving in the British army or that of India, utilises his kukri for a multitude of purposes, including wood chopping, meal preparation and digging in the ground.
2. scimitar
Answer: bladed weapon
The scimitar is a sword with a curved blade, often associated with horsemen of the Middle East. Lightweight and with a relatively short, curved blade, the scimitar was deemed ideal for close fighting from horseback.
3. kris
Answer: bladed weapon
The kris is a type of dagger from Indonesia, with what I can only describe as a "wavy" blade. Also called a keris, this dagger from the island of Java is also used in the martial art pencak silat. Some are believed to be lucky, while others carry bad luck with them.
4. dirk
Answer: bladed weapon
A dirk is a long-bladed dagger, such as those carried by Scots highlanders. The word is derived from the Scots Gaelic word "dearg", but can also be used for blades carried by naval officers, or from other regions. The dirk should not be confused with the sgian dubh, which is shorter and easier to conceal.
5. cutlass
Answer: bladed weapon
Most often associated with pirates, the cutlass has a short curved blade useful for hand to hand combat when boarding a targetted ship. You might have seen Errol Flynn or Johnny Depp wielding one in the movies.
6. Louisville slugger
Answer: sporting equipment
Favoured by a number of major league baseball players, the Louisville slugger is a particular brand of baseball bat, manufactured under that name since the 1890s. Ownership of the name has changed over the years, but the quality of the bat has been maintained.
7. mallet
Answer: sporting equipment
Mallets are used in croquet to tap wooden balls through hoops around a course, usually laid out on someone's lawn. Mallets are also used in polo, to thwack the ball along the ground whilst leaning precariously from one's horse's back.
8. cesta
Answer: sporting equipment
The word "cesta" is Spanish for "basket" and in sporting terms, the cesta is the wicker appendage worn by jai alai players to manipulate the ball, or pelota, around the court. Speeds in excess of 170 mph (273 kph) have been achieved.
9. tee
Answer: sporting equipment
If you golf (even if you don't), you probably know that the thingamajig that you stick in the ground and set your ball on is called a tee. Another, larger, tee is used (sometimes) in various forms of football (American, Canadian, Rugby) for kicking off, but generally not for field goals or extra points.
10. shuttlecock
Answer: sporting equipment
You might know the shuttlecock better as a badminton birdie. Apparently, serious badminton players prefer the term "shuttlecock", which derived from the way the feathered cork item shuttled back and forth across the net, whilst resembling a rooster (or cock). The feathers probably played a part in the alternate name as well.
11. yurt
Answer: dwelling
Traditional yurts (or gers) have been dwelling places in central Asia, especially Mongolia, for over two thousand years. They are portable, consisting of a light circular wooden frame covered in material (often felt) and insulated against the weather. In more recent times North Americans have adapted yurts to various purposes.
12. igloo
Answer: dwelling
The igloo, or snow hut, in the 21st century is used most often as a temporary shelter, though in earlier times the larger versions were at least semi-permanent dwellings. The word "iglu" in the Inuit languages, in fact, means any dwelling, building materials notwithstanding.
13. caravan
Answer: dwelling
In this instance, the word "caravan" is used to mean a trailer or mobile home, used either in a permanent position, or as a nomad's mobile dwelling. It could also refer to a Romany caravan, still to be found in some parts of the world.
14. bungalow
Answer: dwelling
A bungalow is a smallish, single storey dwelling, possibly with a verandah or an extra bedroom under the eaves, with a dormer window. The architectural style developed in the Bengal region of India, but variations like the California bungalow have made changes.
15. duplex
Answer: dwelling
In Canada, a duplex is a building with two separate dwelling units, usually with a common wall between them. The units may be side by side or one above the other, but each one is entirely separate from the other.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
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