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Makila
The makila (sometimes spelled ''makhila'') is a traditional Basque walking stick, and is notable as both a practical tool and a cultural symbol of authority and strength. Etymology "Makila" in Euskara (Basque language) literally can mean "stick", "walking cane", "rod", "club", or " mace". The word is derived from the Latin ''bacillum'' ("little staff"). "Makila" itself carries certain connotations, for instance in the verb form, ''makilatu'', meaning "to bludgeon", or the derived ''makila-ukaldi'', meaning "club-strike" or "mace-strike". The term outside of Basque country has come to be associated with the unique walking stick carried by Basques. Appearance The makila walking stick consists of an engraved medlar wood shaft cut to a length to suit its owner, generally either hipbone or sternum-height, {{convert, 1, to, 1.4, m, ft. The bottom is often shod with steel or other metal and ends in a ferrule (blunt spike for traction). The handle is also often covered with metal o ...
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Walking Stick
A walking stick (also known as a walking cane, cane, walking staff, or staff) is a device used primarily to aid walking, provide postural stability or support, or assist in maintaining a good posture. Some designs also serve as a fashion accessory, or are used for self-defense. Walking sticks come in many shapes and sizes and some have become collector's items. People with disabilities may use some kinds of walking sticks as a crutch, but a walking cane is not designed for full weight support but used to help with balance. The walking stick has also historically been known to be used as a self-defense weapon, and may conceal a sword or knife. Hikers use walking sticks, also known as trekking poles, pilgrim's staffs, hiking poles, or hiking sticks, for a wide variety of purposes: as a support when going uphill or as a brake when going downhill; as a balance point when crossing streams, swamps, or other rough terrain; to feel for obstacles in the path; to test mud and wate ...
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Swordstick
A swordstick or cane-sword is a cane containing a hidden blade or sword. The term is typically used to describe European weapons from around the 18th century. But similar devices have been used throughout history, notably the Roman ''dolon'', the Japanese '' shikomizue'' and the Indian '' gupti''. Use of the European swordstick contrasts against the martial art of cane-fighting, the use of unmodified walking sticks for non-lethal self-defense. History A precedent for the swordstick would be used by 17th century spy Alonso de Contreras, who would hide a sword inside a staff while disguised as a pilgrim. The swordstick became a popular fashion accessory for the wealthy during the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, it was becoming less socially acceptable to openly carry a sword, but there were still upper-class men routinely trained in swordsmanship who wished to go armed for self-defense. Swords concealed in ladies' walking sticks and parasols were also not unknown, ...
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Basque People
The Basques ( or ; ; ; ) are a Southwestern European ethnic group, characterised by the Basque language, a common culture and shared genetic ancestry to the ancient Vascones and Aquitanians. Basques are indigenous to, and primarily inhabit, an area traditionally known as the Basque Country ()—a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France. Etymology The English word ''Basque'' may be pronounced or and derives from the French ''Basque'' (), itself derived from Gascon ''Basco'' (pronounced ), cognate with Spanish ''Vasco ''(pronounced ). Those, in turn, come from Latin ''Vascō'' (pronounced ; plural '' Vascōnēs''—see history section below). The Latin generally evolved into the bilabials and in Gascon and Spanish, probably under the influence of Basque and the related Aquitanian (the Latin /w/ instead evolved into in French, Ita ...
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Euskara
Basque ( ; ) is a language spoken by Basques and other residents of the Basque Country, a region that straddles the westernmost Pyrenees in adjacent parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. Basque is classified as a language isolate (unrelated to any other known languages), the only one in Europe. The Basques are indigenous to and primarily inhabit the Basque Country. The Basque language is spoken by 806,000 Basques in all territories. Of them, 93.7% (756,000) are in the Spanish area of the Basque Country and the remaining 6.3% (50,000) are in the French portion. Native speakers live in a contiguous area that includes parts of four Spanish provinces and the three "ancient provinces" in France. Gipuzkoa, most of Biscay, a few municipalities on the northern border of Álava and the northern area of Navarre formed the core of the remaining Basque-speaking area before measures were introduced in the 1980s to strengthen Basque fluency. By contrast, most of Álava, th ...
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Mace (bludgeon)
A mace is a blunt weapon, a type of Club (weapon), club or virge that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful Strike (attack), strikes. A mace typically consists of a strong, heavy, wooden or metal shaft, often reinforced with metal, featuring a head made of stone, bone, copper, bronze, iron, or steel. The head of a mace can be shaped with flanges or knobs to increase the pressure of an impact by focusing the force on a small point. They would bind on metal instead of sliding around it, allowing them to deliver more force to an armored opponent than a traditional mace. This effect increased the potential for the mace to injure an armored opponent through weak spots in the armor, and even damage plate armor by denting it, potentially binding overlapping plates and impeding the wearer's range of motion. Medieval historian and re-enactor Todd Todeschini (AKA Todd Cutler) demonstrated this effect with period accurate equipment in a series of tests on video. Mac ...
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Basque Country (historical Territory)
The Basque Country (; ; ) is the name given to the home of the Basque people. Trask, R.L. ''The History of Basque'' Routledge: 1997 The Basque Country is located in the western Pyrenees, straddling the border between France and Spain on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. Encompassing the Autonomous Communities of the Basque Country and Navarre in Spain and the Northern Basque Country in France, the region is home to the Basque people (), their language (), culture and traditions. The area is neither linguistically nor culturally homogeneous, and certain areas have a majority of people who do not consider themselves Basque, such as the south of Navarre. The concept is still highly controversial, and the Supreme Court of Navarre has upheld a denial of government funding to school books that include the Navarre community within the Basque Country area. Etymology The name in Basque is ''Euskal Herria''. The name is difficult to accurately translate into other languages due to the ...
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Trefle Makhila
was a Japanese project group formed by Second Shot in 2013. The group featured voice and stage actresses from various talent agencies and were promoted through the online radio program ''A&G Girls Project Trefle''. The group's original line-up consisted of Yui Kano, Yui Ishikawa, Chihiro Ikki, Yukari Goto, Minami Takahashi, and Marina Tanoue. Nanami Kashiyama, Eri Suzuki, Karin Takahashi, and Ayumi Takamune were added as members in April 2014. The group disbanded on October 5, 2016. History Trefle was created as a girl group featuring voice actresses Yui Kano, Yui Ishikawa, Chihiro Ikki, Yukari Goto, Minami Takahashi, and Marina Tanoue, who are all part of different talent agencies. The group was promoted through the online radio program ''A&G Girls Project Trefle''. Trefle released their first album, ''Anison Kamikyoku + ChainChro'' on October 23, 2013, which also featured a collaboration with ''Chain Chronicle''. In April 2014, Nanami Kashiyama, Eri Suzuki, Karin Takahashi ...
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Medlar
''Mespilus germanica'', known as the medlar or common medlar, is a large shrub or small tree in the rose family Rosaceae. When the genus ''Mespilus'' is included in the genus ''Crataegus'', the correct name for this species is ''Crataegus germanica'' ( L.) Kuntze. The fruit of this tree, also called medlar, has been cultivated since Roman times. It is usually available in winter and eaten when bletted. It may be consumed raw and in a range of cooked dishes. Description Under ideal circumstances, the deciduous plant grows up to tall. Generally, it is shorter and more shrub-like than tree-like. With a lifespan of 30–60 years, the tree is rather short-lived. Its bark is grayish brown with deep vertical cracks forming rectangular plates that tend to lift off. The wild form of ''M. germanica'' is mostly a thorny, more shrub-like than tree-like plant, which is between high. In the cultivated forms, the thorns are usually reduced or even completely absent. In general, the medl ...
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Beret
A beret ( , ; ; ; ) is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap made of hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, wool felt, or acrylic fibre. Mass production of berets began in the 19th century in Southern France and the north of History of Spain (1808–1874), Spain, specifically in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country, where they were already common headwear, and the beret remains associated with these countries. Berets are worn as part of the uniform of many military and police units worldwide, as well as by other organizations. History Archaeology and art history indicate that headwear similar to the modern beret has been worn since the Bronze Age across Northern Europe and as far south as ancient Crete and Italy, where it was worn by the Minoan civilization, Minoans, Etruscans and Ancient Rome, Romans. Such headgear has been popular among the nobility and artists across Europe throughout modern history. Dutch artist, Rembrandt, 15 July 1606 - 4 October 1669, was w ...
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Basque Country (autonomous Community)
The Basque Country or Basque Autonomous Community (), also officially called Euskadi (), is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Araba, Biscay, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa. It surrounds two enclaves called Treviño enclave, Treviño (Province of Burgos, Burgos) and Valle de Villaverde (Cantabria). The Basque Country was granted the status of ''Nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'', attributed by the Spanish Constitution of 1978. The autonomous community is based on the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country, a foundational legal document providing the framework for the development of the Basque people on Southern Basque Country. Parallelly, Navarre, which narrowly rejected a joint statute of autonomy in 1932, was granted a separate chartered statute in 1982. Currently there is no official capital in the autonomous community, but the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the province of Álava, is ...
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