What is a Gobang?

[KuKulzA28]

My Indonesian Hokkien friend told me recently that a Gobang is a large version of a parang, so perhaps a tinggi one, and that often they are left dirty and rusty. Part of the reason for that is said to be so that infections and tetanus will result if there is a fight and the enemy escapes wounded.

Anyone know anything about Gobangs?

Is that just a local colloquial term for large machete-types or are there specific examples of gobangs?


Thanks.

[vampire]

hai
here jan
from mine time in indonesia
i rember that the term gobang was
used for a very large copper coin
i do not think this helps but ,oke
grt to you
ask your friend apa kabar
baik -baik
good night
the vampire

[KuKulzA28]

Well maybe the word gobang doesn't mean machete, but it is meant to mean something large? and maybe in different parts of Indonesia it is referring to different things? So in your part it meant a large copper coin... and in his maybe it meant a large parang?

For example there is a Taiwanese phrase, "dwa ken", which means the size of big grapefruits... but is often used to describe a lovely woman's breasts in slang usage...

[Sajen]

By Zonneveld I found: "Gobang, Sunda isles, A type of sword." Nothing more, only this.

[KuKulzA28]

Originally Posted by Sajen

By Zonneveld I found: "Gobang, Sunda isles, A type of sword." Nothing more, only this.

Thanks for searching Sajen! Too bad there is only so little regarding this...
My friend seemed to imply that Gobangs were often used in fights, probably because of their longer length compared to smaller goloks and parangs... maybe the Gobang was a common term for swords? Or maybe a type of sword whose name eventually became applied to various long blades?

[vampire]

hai
i did look i mine diconary-book
kamus kantong belanda
for you but it does not give word gobang
but i remember it does difer on many isels
i will ask for you
greet jan