Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- 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.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The throwing-stick of the Mexicans, used for propelling spears with great force. See throwing-stick.
Wiktionary
- n. A spear thrower: 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.
- n. alternative spelling of ahtlatl.
Etymologies
- Nahuatl, from atla, to throw.
Examples
“The atlatl is an ancient throwing weapon that predates bows and arrows.”
“My last post included the word atlatl as a humorous rhyme.”
“There is room for all methods -- rifle, shotgun, bow, crossbow, atlatl.”
“Long range (stand off) atlatl propelled throwing spears.”
Some time back Dave Petzel made an excellent post concering the last days of Neanderthal man.
“This point, he says, "probably functioned as an atlatl dart point or knife," and "probably dates to the Late Archaic subperiod (6,000-3,000 years ago).”
“This makes me want to place my atlatl in her all-that-is-warmth.”
“The Aztecs were still using atlatls when the conquistadors landed; an expertly thrown atlatl could pierce the Spanish mail.”
“If I could hurdle past the muddle in the middle to the battle where addled foes will sabres rattle, the muscled hero with his antique atlatl could spill his quiver then skedaddle, scoot off to whittle a canoe and paddle”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘atlatl’.
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The Request Line
This is the place to add words you'd like Charles Harrington Elster to pronounce for you!
swingeing, affiant, dahlia, hydrangea, re, clematis, Nabokov, casu marzu, schadenfreudgeon, nefarious, mewl, manteion and 170 more...
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Fun to Say
Non-English is okay, but please don't add misspellings.
writhe, quibble, smock, festival, carnival, unicycle, panorama, mammogram, explicit, prehensile, pseudonym, antonym and 18 more...
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Nahuatl
"Spanish náhuatl, from Nahuatl, that which pleases the ear, from nahua-, audible, intelligent, clear."
- etymology from The American Heritage Dictionary
Nahuatl, Zapotec, Aztec, avocado, guacamole, amole, atlatl, axolotl, black sapote, cacao, cacomistle, chayote and 75 more...
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Archaeology
Words for shovelbums!
trowel, mattock, chopper, n-transform, c-transform, taphonomy, processual, post-processual, microarchaeology, site, horizon, battleship curve and 33 more...
knitandpurl "A Rwandan man-at-arms grasps an atlatl and casts a fatal shaft that can stab a grand marshall."
Eunoia by Christian Bök (upgraded edition), p 28 May 19, 2010
chained_bear Some related conversation can be found on axolotl. Jul 8, 2009
smeggo Fingerflinger. Oct 10, 2008
oroboros The longest uncommon tautonym beginning with 'a'.
--Chris Cole, Wordplay (See comment under "Wordplay List".) May 25, 2008