javelin

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English chafeveleyn, gavelong, from Old French javelline, diminutive of javelot, diminutive of *javel, from Vulgar Latin *gabalus, from Gaulish gabulum (compare Old Irish gabul (“fork”), Welsh gafl), from Proto-Celtic *gablā (“fork, forked branch”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ-. The Old French term was also borrowed into Middle Low German as gaveline, and into Middle High German as gabilot. Cognate with gavelock, gaffle. === Pronunciation === enPR: jăv'lǐn, IPA(key): /ˈd͡ʒæv.(ə.)lɪn/ Rhymes: -ævlɪn === Noun === javelin (plural javelins) A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon. A metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in an athletic field event. A javelinfish (Coelorinchus australis). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === javelin (third-person singular simple present javelins, present participle javelining or javelinning, simple past and past participle javelined or javelinned) (transitive) To pierce with a javelin. (transitive) To throw like a javelin. (intransitive) To fall like a javelin. === See also === discus hammer