javelin
[ jav-lin, jav-uh- ]
/ ˈdʒæv lɪn, ˈdʒæv ə- /
noun
a light spear, usually thrown by hand.
Track.
- a spearlike shaft about 8½ feet (2.7 meters) long and usually made of wood, used in throwing for distance.
- Also called javelin throw. a competitive field event in which the javelin is thrown for distance.
verb (used with object)
to strike or pierce with or as if with a javelin.
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Origin of javelin
1505–15; < Middle French javeline, by suffix alteration from javelot, Anglo-French gavelot, gaveloc, probably < Old English gafeluc, *gafeloc ≪ British Celtic *gablākos presumably, a spear with a forklike head; compare MIr gablach forked branch, javelin, MWelsh gaflach (apparently < OIr), derivative of Old Irish gabul fork, forked branch, cognate with Old Breton gabl, Welsh gafl
Words nearby javelin
javan, javanese, javari, javascript, javel water, javelin, javelin fish, javelina, javelle water, javits, jaw
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for javelin
British Dictionary definitions for javelin
javelin
/ (ˈdʒævlɪn) /
noun
a long pointed spear thrown as a weapon or in competitive field events
the javelin the event or sport of throwing the javelin
Word Origin for javelin
C16: from Old French javeline, variant of javelot, of Celtic origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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