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Webster 1913 Edition

Javelin

Jave′lin

,
Noun.
[F.
javeline
; akin to Sp.
jabalina
, It.
giavelina
, and F.
javelot
, OF.
gavlot
. Cf.
Gavelock
.]
1.
A sort of light spear, to be thrown or cast by the hand; anciently, a weapon of war used by horsemen and foot soldiers; now used chiefly in hunting the wild boar and other fierce game.
Flies the
javelin
swifter to its mark,
Launched by the vigor of a Roman arm?
Addison.

Jave′lin

,
Verb.
T.
To pierce with a javelin.
[R.]
Tennyson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Javelin

JAV'ELIN

, ,
Noun.
A sort of spear about five feet and a half long, the shaft of which was of wood, but pointed with steel; used by horse or foot. Every Roman soldier carried seven javelins.

Definition 2024

javelin

javelin

English

Noun

javelin ‎(plural javelins)

  1. A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
    • Addison
      Flies the javelin swifter to its mark, / Launched by the vigour of a Roman arm?
  2. A metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in an athletic field event.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

javelin ‎(third-person singular simple present javelins, present participle javelining, simple past and past participle javelined)

  1. (transitive) To pierce with a javelin.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Tennyson to this entry?)

See also

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French javelline, diminutive of javelot, diminutive of *javel, from Vulgar Latin *gabalus, from Gaulish gabal- (compare Old Irish gabul ‎(“fork”), Welsh gafl), from Proto-Celtic *gabalos ‎(“fork, forked branch”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰabʰlos ‎(“fork, branch of tree”). The Old French term was also borrowed into Middle Low German as gaveline, and into Middle High German as gabilot.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: jăv'lǐn, IPA(key): /ˈdʒævlɪn/, ˈdʒævəlɪn/
  • Rhymes: -ævlɪn

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