Where does “javelin” come from?

Javelin comes from Old French javelline, from Old French javelot, from Old French javel, from Gaulish gabalos, from Proto-Celtic gabalos, from Proto-Indo-European gʰabʰlos.

javelin (English): A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a...

Definitions

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

Ancestry of “javelin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchjavellinea type of long, thin, spear used as a weapon
2Old Frenchjavelotjavelin
3Vulgar Latingabalottusspear
4Gaulishgabalos—
5Proto-Celticgabalosfork, forked branch
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰabʰlosfork, branch of tree

Words derived from “javelin”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰabʰlos →Every word from Proto-Celtic gabalos →Every word from Gaulish gabalos →
javelin — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer