boomerang

/ˈbuːməɹæŋ/

Etymology

Origin uncertain. Possibly from Thurawal. Long regarded as from the Sydney language, but early evidence unclear. The form boo-mer-it is glossed, c.1790, as 'scimeter' (i.e., scimitar) and the word bumarang, bumarañ is not explicitly recorded in the Sydney Language until 1903.

boomerang means Any of various traditional throwing sticks used for hunting or combat by Australian aborigines, including the symmetrical, crescent-shaped, type (the returning boomerang). Lexicurio rates it Distinctive — a strength score of 66 out of 100.

noun

Any of various traditional throwing sticks used for hunting or combat by Australian aborigines, including the symmetrical, crescent-shaped, type (the returning boomerang).“Some resemblance to terrestrial things, it is true, everyone can behold in the heavens. Corona, for example, is like a crown, or, as the Australian black fellows know, it is like a boomerang, and we can understand why they give it the name of that curious curved missile.”
A flat curved airfoil that spins about an axis perpendicular to the direction of flight, originally used in various parts of the world as a hunting weapon or, in returnable types, for sports or training.“Before long, however, these pike-like devices were mostly superseded by spring-operated guns of various types. Most of them shot spinning disks, crosses, or small boomerangs of thin steel.”
A breakdancing move in which the performer walks on their hands while keeping the legs raised off the ground.
A boomerang kick.
A device for changing the color of a followspot.“Roll: A live action changing from one color to another. Typically requires dexterity to "crossfade" between two colors in the boomerang with one hand while following with the other.”
The early return of an aircraft whose mission was aborted, often due to technical failures.“For quotations using this term, see Citations:boomerang.”

verb

To return or rebound unexpectedly, especially when the result is undesired; to backfire.“"Well, there must be some flaw about this," I suggested. "If your magnet is so strong as all that, you would have your own broadside boomeranging back upon you."”
To travel in a curved path.“He said that to the horse as it boomeranged off again and broke away through the scrub.”
To abort a mission and return to base early.“For quotations using this term, see Citations:boomerang.”