javelin
JAV-lin
/ˈdʒævlɪn/
A light spear thrown for distance in an athletic contest.
Specifically refers to the sporting equipment, not a heavy combat spear used for thrusting.
The story behind the word. The word likely has Celtic origins, entering English via the French 'javeline.' It originally described a light spear used by cavalry and infantry for throwing at the enemy from a distance.
Word relationships
- spear: A spear is a general term for the weapon; a javelin is specifically the light, throwing version.
Commonly confused with
- harpoon: A harpoon is used for hunting sea creatures and usually has a rope attached.
Word family
- javelinist (noun): A person who throws the javelin.
Collocations
- javelin throw
- launch a javelin
- javelin event
Example sentences
- "The javelin soared through the air, landing point-first beyond the 80-meter mark." Olympic commentary
- "Ancient warriors used the javelin as a projectile weapon before it became a staple of the Olympic Games." History
Memory hook
Think of a 'javelin' as a 'travelin' spear. Javelin = Jabs the air and travels far.
When not to use
Do not use for heavy spears or harpoons used in fishing.
Fun facts
- The javelin had to be redesigned in the 1980s because athletes were throwing it so far they were nearly hitting people on the other side of the stadium.
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