Meaning of corok?
 

I have a rather long Bali keris, and it was recently described to me by a Facebook gentleman as a "keris corok". I look in vain on the web or in my (admittedly minute) library of keris books for this term. Can one of the more knowledgeable people here explain what corok means?

A pic of your keris might help. ;)

Regards,
Kai

In Javanese the word "corok" means a stick that you use to poke something with.

Some people refer to a longer than normal keris as a "keris corok".

A specimen of Javanese blade corok (42.5 cm long excluding the pesi). However I never heard this term applied to Balinese blades.
Regards

In fact Jean, I have very seldom heard it used in Jawa either, but I know some people do use it.

Perhaps the gentleman who advised Mr. Workman was Javanese.

Good morning guys,
I believe the fellow who provided the information is from Java. I didn't want to pry, I don't know him that well.
So it's a descriptive but somewhat ironic term? It brings to mind outsized o-Ken being called "oars" or "laundry poles" or things of that nature.
Overall length is 24.5". Would that normally qualify?

In Solo a common ironic term for a big, heavy keris is "linggis" --- a spud bar (crow bar, post hole bar).

Thats great, I love that word play. I still wonder if a my keris qualifies as a corok, although my understanding of the keris is limited to a few books and the perusal of a few museum collections, mostly eclectic and happenstance. And of course what I have been lucky enough to learn here.

I was under the impression that keris corok were mainly used in Sunda, and generally worn on the left hip owing to their larger size.

Your blade should be 40-42 cm long excluding the pesi, which is a pretty standard size for a Balinese blade.
Regards

I was told this term by my Solonese friend who is active in the kris business there.
Regards

Does anyone have a keris that is in fact a corok that they would be willing to post? I would like to see one long enough to be worn like a sword, if its not too inconvenient.
Or, is the one Jean posted above to be worn in that fashion?

Thats intriguing, I wonder what made my informant think of it as oversized? He saw a photo of it and knows the dimensions, perhaps something in the shape inspired him.

You stated the keris is 24.5" "overall". How long is just the blade then?

It isn't near me right now, but I'm going to say 18"

I used to be an engineer...
1. In metric units the total kris length is 24.5" or 62 cm.
2. Assuming that the blade is flush to the scabbard, the total kris length is the sum of the lengths of the hilt plus exposed pesi, and the gandar. I measured these at 3.5 cm and 12.4 cm respectively on my screen, so 15.9 cm total.
3. I measured the blade length at 10.7 cm on my screen.

Thus the blade length should be: (10.7 : 15.9) x 62 = 41.7 cm or 16.5 inches

;)
Of course this result is not very accurate...
Regards

Thanks. I would actually love a truly accurate accounting if you manage to dig up a ruler. Not doubting either your own approximating skills or Jean's engineering skills, but an exact number should not be too difficult to obtain i would think. ;)
Either way, 16.5" to 18" are well within a normal length for a Bali blade. :)

From the tip to but excluding the pesi is exactly 18" measured straight down the center. So, not a keris corok? Or, not to most people?

Jean, I do not doubt that your contact living in Solo may have used the word "corok". As I said, I am aware that some people do use it, but the word "corok" has never had popular usage amongst the circle of people whom I count as teachers and close acquaintances.

I do not know why this is so, but I suspect the word and idea of "corok" is something that is perhaps more popular amongst people with Jakarta, or other city-type background than with people who have kraton associations and associations with the old school m'ranggis.

gets worse. :)

lingus (latin) is a tongue/licking, as in i'm a cunning linguist.

lingam is a SEA (hindu) religious depiction of a male generative organ. the pesi can also be described as the lingham that penetrates the (female) ganja.

lingus is slang for a long skinny male organ (urban dictionary)...the opposite
of a chode, a short fat one.

I've heard the term keris corok before in regards for a very long keris. Here a keris pedang from Lombok from my collection: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...68&postcount=7 taken from this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=keris+pedang

Regards,
Detlef

Kronckew, with apologies, the word "lingus" and the word "lingam" come from different roots.

Lingus is Latin, as you note, and comes from Old Latin, very probably initially from Proto Italian. I suspect the Sanscrit origin would be "lidhe"; to lick or to lap. Note Javanese krama inggil "lidhah" :- "tongue".

Lingam is standard English, coming from the Sanscrit "Linga" : a sign, emblem, token etc, in the context of Hindu belief, a sign etc inferring Shiva. This is general Hindu belief, not limited to SEA.

In the context of Hindu belief the lingam is a holy symbol, I personally find the profane and/or disrespectful treatment of any holy symbols to be in rather bad taste.

The Javanese words "linggis" and "linggam" share a similar physical form, and may share a similar etymological root, but if this is so, I feel that root would be found in Javanese usage.

The Javanese spelling convention used to create a hard "g" sound is to double the "g", "ng" in a Javanese word acquires a sound similar to the "ng" in "sing'. Thus "lingam" becomes "linggam" in Javanese.

You are one erudite fellow, did you know that?

I do try not to be Mr. Workman.

I try to be civilised and well mannered at all times.

However, in this e-world in which we now live, with its e-mail, and e-bay, and e-everything else, I do occasionally slip, so, if my e-rudeness has offended you in any way I offer my most humble e-pologies.

No offense, of course, I was just commenting. You're a national treasure of this one small virtual country.

Mr. Workman, my previous post was an attempt at humour by deliberately misunderstanding the meaning of erudite.

A previous post had played upon the similar sound of words. I did the same.