In Bengal, we used to call this “jhnyata”. In Guyana, it is referred to as a pointed broom.

In Bengal, it used to be pointed all right. Often used as a threatening device for corporal punishment, many a Bengali expletives would be bereft of its core essence and emotion without a liberal use of this word. Why its cousin “baa-ron” never earned the same status, I will never know.

Seems like this might have some other significance too in Guyana. As you will see in the picture, one of carvings of the first president of the country had the pointed broom also carved in. I have no idea why.