Javelin
/ˈdʒæv.əl.ɪn/noun
A light spear designed to be thrown.
Did you know?The English word entered through Old French, ultimately from a Celtic root meaning a spear or lance, showing how a weapon’s name can survive conquest, trade, and empire.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
abalo-
“spear, lance”
Gaulish
Gaulish
gabalos
“spear, forked stick”
Latin
Latin
gabalinus
“of a spear; spear-like”
Old French
Old French
javelin
“spear, dart”
Middle English
English
javelin
“light spear for throwing”
Modern English
English
javelin
“a light spear thrown as a sport or weapon”