javelin

Noun

an athletic competition in which a javelin is thrown as far as possible
a spear thrown as a weapon or in competitive field events
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).

Verb

To pierce with a javelin.
To throw like a javelin.
To fall like a javelin.
-ED, -ING, -S to pierce with a javelin (a light spear)

Origin / 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.

Scrabble Score: 17

javelin: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
javelin: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
javelin: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 22

javelin is a valid Words With Friends word