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spear-thrower

[ speer-throh-er ]
/ ˈspɪərˌθroʊ ər /
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noun Anthropology.
a flexible device for launching a spear, usually a short cord wound around the spear so that when thrown the weapon will rotate in the air.
Also called atlatl. a rigid device for increasing the speed and distance of a spear when thrown, usually a flat wooden stick with a handhold and a peg or socket to accommodate the butt end of the spear.
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Origin of spear-thrower

First recorded in 1870–75

Words nearby spear-thrower

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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