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atlatl - 4 dictionary results
at⋅latl
[aht-laht-l] 
Origin:
1870–75; < Nahuatl ahtlatl
1870–75; < Nahuatl ahtlatl
spear-throw⋅er
[speer-throh-er] –noun Anthropology.
| 1. | a flexible device for launching a spear, usually a short cord wound around the spear so that when thrown the weapon will rotate in the air. |
| 2. | Also called atlatl. a rigid device for increasing the speed and distance of a spear when thrown, usually a flat wooden stick with a handhold and a peg or socket to accommodate the butt end of the spear. |
Origin:
1870–75
1870–75
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To atlatl
| at·la·tl (ät-lät'l) n. A throwing device usually consisting of a stick fitted with a thong or socket to steady the butt of a spear or dart and extend the length it travels. [Nahuatl, from atla, to throw.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
atlatl
a device for throwing a spear (or dart) usually consisting of a rod or board with a groove on the upper surface and a hook, thong, or projection at the rear end to hold the weapon in place until its release. Its purpose is to give greater velocity and force to the spear. In use from prehistoric times, the spear-thrower was used to efficiently fell animals as large as the mammoth.
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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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