One more ukelele joke and I'll bean you with my cosh!

Seriously, thanks to all who replied, including the digression. Alas, the time period for cosh is too late in the game for my book. I'm sure there must have been a word for such a thing at the time (it's too simple a weapon to have taken so long to invent), but it may well have been lost. If anyone comes across one, please let me know.

Thanks again,
Dean