different between javelin vs harpoon

English

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], 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 *gabl? (“fork, forked branch”), from Proto-Indo-European *g?eh?b?-. The Old French term was also borrowed into Middle Low German as gaveline, and into Middle High German as gabilot. Cognate with gavelock, gaffle.

Pronunciation

• enPR: j?v'l?n, IPA^(key): /?d?ævl?n/, /?d?æv?l?n/
• Rhymes: -ævl?n

Noun

javelin (plural javelins)

1. A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.

   • Flies the javelin swifter to its mark, / Launched by the vigour of a Roman arm?

2. A metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in an athletic field event.

Derived terms

• javelineer
• javelinier

Translations

Verb

javelin (third-person singular simple present javelins, present participle javelining, simple past and past participle javelined)

1. (transitive) To pierce with a javelin.

See also

• discus
• hammer

English

Etymology

From Old French harpon, from Latin harpaga, a rare variant of Latin harpag?, from Ancient Greek ?????? (harpág?, “hook”), from ?????? (harpáz?, “to snatch away, to carry off, to seize, to captivate”). Sense and spelling perhaps influenced by Dutch harpoen (“harpoon”). Doublet of harpagon.

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: härpo?on?, IPA^(key): /h????pu?n/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: härpo?on?, IPA^(key): /h???pu?n/
• Rhymes: -u?n
• Hyphenation: har?poon

Noun

harpoon (plural harpoons)

1. A spearlike weapon with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish.
2. (slang) A harmonica.

Derived terms

• harpoon fork

Translations

Verb

harpoon (third-person singular simple present harpoons, present participle harpooning, simple past and past participle harpooned)

1. (transitive) To shoot something with a harpoon.

Derived terms

• harpooner

Translations

See also

• spear