noun

javelin

JAV-lihn

noun

A light spear designed to be thrown by hand, used historically as a weapon.

"The ancient warriors carried javelins into battle."

"A javelin whistled past the shield wall."

A metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in a track and field event.

"She set a new personal best in the javelin."

"The javelin sailed nearly ninety metres."

verb

To hurl something through the air the way a javelin is thrown, or to pierce something with one.

"He javelined the stick across the yard."

How to Use Javelin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA long throwing spear, or the athletics event built around throwing one.

Common pairings

throw a javelin javelin throw javelin thrower

javelined past tense, javelinned past tense, javelins plural, javelins singular

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The ancient warriors carried _____ into battle.

Traced back through Old French javelot to a Gaulish word for a fork or forked branch — the same distant root gave us "gaffle."

Zeppelin Michelin