arrow

Meaning

Noun

1. A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.
2. A sign or symbol used to indicate a direction (e.g.→).
3. A directed edge.
4. A morphism.
5. (colloquial) A dart.
6. The -> symbol, which has specific meanings in various programming languages.
7. The inflorescence or tassel of a mature sugar cane plant.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).
2. (transitive) To let fly swiftly and directly.
3. (intransitive) To develop an inflorescence.
4. (intransitive) To navigate using the arrow keys.
5. (Singapore, Singlish, transitive) To single out or nominate (someone) to be responsible for something, especially an undesirable task.

Contraction

Contraction of ever a (sometimes used with a redundant a or an).

Synonyms

dart

🎯

shaft

bow

🙇

pointer

bamboo

🎍

spear

missile

quarrel

poison

shot

bullet

pierce

prick

pronged

quiver

reed

retort

rod

spike

stab

staff

stick

sting

thorn

weapon

bowknot

sagitta

diviner’s fee for minor case

poisoned arrow

conflict

spear head

extract a thorn

staking pin

exploring tube

survey probe

axis

point gauge

barb

barbed

beam

bolt

cane

indicator

knife

🔪

matchstick

needle

penis

Translations

flèche

flecha

Pfeil

pijl

freccia

βέλος

flecha

seta

fletxa

sagitta

ok

سهم

tîr

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæɹəʊ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: arwe

Inherited from Old English: earh

Cognate with Faroese: ørv

Cognate with Icelandic: ör

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌰𐍂𐍈𐌰𐌶𐌽𐌰

Cognate with Latin: arcus

In summary

From Middle English arwe, from Old English earh (oblique form ēarw-), from Proto-West Germanic *arhu, from Proto-Germanic *arhwō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂érkʷo- (“bow, arrow”). Cognate with Faroese ørv (“arrow”), Icelandic ör (“arrow”), örvar (“arrows”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐍈𐌰𐌶𐌽𐌰 (arƕazna, “dart”), Latin arcus (“bow”).