atlatl
|at-lə-təl|
/ˈæt.lə.təl/
spear-thrower
Etymology
'atlatl' originates from Nahuatl, specifically the word 'ātlātl', where the original word referred to the spear-thrower device.
'atlatl' came into Spanish and then into English usage (especially in 19th-century archaeological and ethnographic writing) directly from the Nahuatl 'ātlātl'.
Initially it referred specifically to the Mesoamerican device known in Nahuatl; over time it has been used more generally for similar spear-throwing devices from other cultures.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a hand-held spear-thrower used to propel darts or spears; typically a shaft with a hook or socket that increases the leverage and force of a throw.
The museum exhibited an ancient atlatl recovered from a coastal archaeological site.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/12 01:58