Crossword clues for atlatl
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Throwing stick \Throw"ing stick`\ (Anthropol.) An instrument used by various savage races for throwing a spear; -- called also throw stick and spear thrower. One end of the stick receives the butt of the spear, as upon a hook or thong, and the other end is grasped with the hand, which also holds the spear, toward the middle, above it with the finger and thumb, the effect being to bring the place of support nearer the center of the spear, and practically lengthen the arm in the act of throwing. In Mexico, one such device is called the atlatl.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Native American throwing stick, 1871, from Nahuatl (Aztecan) atlatl "spear-thrower."
Wiktionary
n. A spear thrower 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. (from 19th c.)
Usage examples of "atlatl".
Each carried two or three light javelins, and an atlatl tucked into a wide belt with a sheathed long-bladed knife.
It was as if a man had traveled the centuries from Warm-times, wrapped himself in fur, taken up javelins and atlatl, and filed his teeth.
While the Uryd disdained use of the bow, they excelled with spear and atlatl, with the toothed-disc and the black-rope, and Synyg had taught his son an impressive efficiency with these weapons as well.
Steadfast, dart nocked in her atlatl, she crunched up the slope, into the brunt of the wind.
Wolf looked up from where he carved a segment of mammoth ivory, shaping it carefully into an atlatl hook.
Who Cries leapt, his last dart in hand, and lashed it forward, the atlatl providing two hundred times the power of his unaided hand.
Hunter smashed him across the head with his atlatl, ripping his cheek open.
Then: only shields were the soft copper breastplates and the many copper bracelets upon their arms from shoulder to wrist, fit protection perhaps against atlatl dart and stone knife, but our good edges cut through them like cheese.
But stubbornly clinging to tradition, he kept to the atlatl, and when the time came, we, far out of range, laid his soldiers down like rows of teocentli.
Instead of centuries, my fellow wanderers had come to command cohorts, sturdy and strong, armed with spear, bow and sword, protected by shields of stout wood and hide, their bodies covered by thickly padded cloth armor, a good substitute for metal when used only against atlatl darts.
We never crossed a ford uncontested, never entered a forest opening without hearing atlatl darts whistle across it at our scouts.
This was a good protection against atlatl darts, which are thrown with an overhand cast and fly in a straight line, but was worthless against the dropping fire of our archers.
Aztlan, Nor-um-Bega, and a large force of Chichamecans charged across the plain and reached the walls, but were forced to retire in a shower of arrows, atlatl darts and slingstones, leaving many dead and most of their courage behind them.
In competition they wrestled and leaped and threw the tomahawk, lance or atlatl dart.
Aztlan, Nor-um-Bega, and a large force of Chichamecans charged across the plain and reached the walls, but were forced to retire in a shower of arrows, atlatl darts and slingstones, leaving many dead and most of their courage behind them.