Did the Witch King use a morning star or flail

[Imp]

My understanding is that a) who even knows in real life what a "morning star" is, b) from 1e/UA, a morning star is a large blunt instrument with significant (as in, 3-inch-long or so) spikes and no chain – I think I remember one description saying it was entirely of wood, but with the metal spikes, and c) this carries into 3e, by virtue of morning stars being classed as simple weapons, and chains make a weapon complicated.

 

[FEADIN]

If anyone has seen The Return of the King, near the end, the dark rider pulls out what looks like a morning star, yet the spiked ball is very huge, when compared to a 3' diameter m.s. So, what kind of weapon was it, and does it have to be used only in one or both hands?

By the rules it seems to be a large light flail wielded with monkey grip or a heavy flail wielded with magical help, in the other hand he wields a "flaming" longsword.

 

[S'mon]

My understanding is that a) who even knows in real life what a "morning star" is, b) from 1e/UA, a morning star is a large blunt instrument with significant (as in, 3-inch-long or so) spikes and no chain – I think I remember one description saying it was entirely of wood, but with the metal spikes, and c) this carries into 3e, by virtue of morning stars being classed as simple weapons, and chains make a weapon complicated.

Yeah, a D&D morningstar is a wooden club with spikes. A ball-and-chain in D&D is a flail.