atlatl en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈatlat(ə)l/ (UK)
Etymology
Borrowed from Classical Nahuatl ahtlatl.
Meanings
-
A spearthrower consisting of a wooden stick with a thong or perpendicularly protruding hook on the rear end that grips a grove or socket on the butt of its accompanying spear (or dart), intended to steady the spear immediately prior to throwing, to increase its potential range when thrown, and to increase its force of penetration of the target.
World's oldest weapon delivery system. It's called an atlatl. Developed over 30,000 years ago.
2020, Robin Pront, 31:36 from the start, in The Silencing, spoken by Jim Needles (Patrick Garrow):While large game was still hunted, mainly using projectile spears but later enhanced by atlatls (spear-throwers) and bows and arrows, evidence for the exploitation of small game such as tortoises, rabbits, wild fowl and eggs increased.
2011, Chris Stringer, The Origin of Our Species, Penguin, published 2012, page 144:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| atlatls | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
Translations (20)
ja スピアスロアー (spear thrower) · pl atlatl (spear thrower) · tli shee áan (spear thrower) · fi heittovipu (spear thrower) · nl speerwerper (spear thrower) · es lanzavenablos (spear thrower) · pt propulsor (spear thrower) · ja アトラトル (spear thrower) · esu nuqaq (spear thrower) · es estólica (spear thrower) · mr आत्लात्ल (spear thrower) · es átlatl (spear thrower) · cmn 投槍器 /投枪器 (spear thrower) · nci ahtlatl (spear thrower) · de Speerschleuder (spear thrower) · kky milbiir (spear thrower) · nay thyrallghie (spear thrower) · es propulsor (spear thrower) · de Atlatl (spear thrower) · es lanzadardos (spear thrower)