Meaning
A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
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.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
lancespear
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram: