javelin

Meaning

Noun

1. A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
2. A metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in an athletic field event.
3. A javelinfish (Coelorinchus australis).

Verb

1. (transitive) To pierce with a javelin.
2. (transitive) To throw like a javelin.
3. (intransitive) To fall like a javelin.

Synonyms

spear

lance

dart

🎯

pike

shaft

spike

fork

harpoon gun

short spear

gavelock

throwing spear

wooden spear

light spear

assagai

javelin-man

battle-axe

dagger

🗡️

harpoon

javelin throw

splinter

window

🪟

Translations

javelot

Speer

jabalina

ακόντιο

giavellotto

javelina

speer

dardo

🎯

verutum

pilum

Wurfspieß

lança

cuspis

werpspies

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/

Etymology

Cognate with Old Irish: gabul

Cognate with Welsh: gafl

Cognate with Middle Low German: -

Cognate with Middle High German: -

In summary

From Middle English chafeveleyn, gavelong, from Old French javelline, diminutive of javelot, diminutive of *javel, from Vulgar Latin *gabalus, from Gaulish gabulum (compare Old Irish gabul (“fork”), Welsh gafl), from Proto-Celtic *gablā (“fork, forked branch”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ-. The Old French term was also borrowed into Middle Low German as gaveline, and into Middle High German as gabilot. Cognate with gavelock, gaffle.