Here's a non-recursive function:

sub wierd_split (\@@) {
    my $regex = shift;
    local $_  = @_ ? shift : $_;

    my    @res;
   ($res [@res],  $_) = split shift @$regex, $_, 2 while @$regex && le
+ngth;
    push  @res => $_ if length;

    @res
}

print "Got $_\n" for wierd_split @{[':', '::', '\s+']} => 'foo:bar::ba
+z frog';
__END__
Got foo
Got bar
Got baz
Got frog
[download]

Adding all the funny stuff of split, like using it in void context, its third parameter, or captures in the regex is left as an exercise for the reader.

Abigail