atlatl

Where does the word "atlatl" come from? It comes from Nahuatl ahtlatl, and was adopted directly into English (1870s).

Atlatl’s story begins in Nahuatl: ahtlatl meant “spear-thrower.” Named for the wooden spear-throwing device. It reached English by 1870s as atlatl. The Aztecs used the spear-thrower against Spanish armour; archaeologists found examples worldwide; Zelia Nuttall's 1891 study of the Mexican atlatl fixed the Nahuatl name in archaeology. Today, atlatl means an ancient hand-held tool used to launch spears or darts with increased leverage and speed.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s ahtlatl "spear-thrower", named for the wooden spear-throwing device.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1870s atlatl "a hand-held device for throwing darts or spears with greater force", the Aztecs used the spear-thrower against Spanish armour; archaeologists found examples worldwide; Zelia Nuttall's 1891 study of the Mexican atlatl fixed the Nahuatl name in archaeology.