Javelin vs. Spear — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
A Javelin is a light spear primarily designed for throwing, while a Spear is a pole weapon with a sharp point, typically used for thrusting or throwing. Both are ancient weapons, but their primary functions differ.
Difference Between Javelin and Spear
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Key Differences
The ancient realms of weaponry have gifted us the Javelin and Spear, both formidable in their right, yet distinct in their design and use.
A Javelin, inherently aerodynamic, is fashioned primarily for throwing. Often seen in athletic events, Javelins are lighter and balanced to travel distances when hurled. Historically, they were used by infantry to target the enemy from afar before close combat ensued.
In contrast, the Spear stands as a versatile weapon, with its primary function being for thrusting against adversaries. Its weight and structure are balanced for hand-to-hand combat, allowing both stabbing motions and defensive techniques. Spears can also be thrown, but their design isn't solely for this purpose.
Delving into cultural contexts, the Javelin finds its modern fame in track and field events, becoming an emblem of athleticism rather than combat. On the other hand, the Spear, with its myriad variations, has been emblematic of warrior classes across different cultures and eras.
Thus, the distinction between a Javelin and a Spear lies not just in their physical attributes, but also in their historical and cultural significance.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Designed mainly for throwing.
Used primarily for thrusting, but can also be thrown.
Weight
Lighter to facilitate throwing.
Heavier, optimized for hand-to-hand combat.
Cultural Role
Modernly known for track and field events.
Historically symbolic of warrior classes across cultures.
Length
Typically shorter for better aerodynamics.
Can vary in length, often longer for combat versatility.
Tip Design
More streamlined for air travel.
Broader and varied, designed for damage in combat.
Compare with Definitions
Javelin
A light spear designed for throwing.
In ancient warfare, the Javelin was thrown to weaken the enemy lines.
Spear
A weapon with a pointed tip attached to a long shaft.
The warrior brandished his Spear, ready for combat.
Javelin
A weapon balanced for distance throwing.
The Javelin's design made it ideal for hurling.
Spear
A tool used for hunting or fishing.
With a quick thrust of his Spear, he caught the fish.
Javelin
A missile used by infantry.
The foot soldiers were equipped with Javelins.
Spear
A symbol of power in various cultures.
The tribal leader held a decorative Spear as a sign of his authority.
Javelin
An emblem of athleticism in modern sports.
He trained for years to master the Javelin event.
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as bone, flint, obsidian, iron, steel, or bronze (or other type of stone or metal).
Javelin
A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon, but today predominantly for sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the sling, bow, and crossbow, which launch projectiles with the aid of a hand-held mechanism.
Spear
A weapon with a pointed tip, typically of steel, and a long shaft, used for thrusting or throwing.
Javelin
A light spear thrown in a competitive sport or as a weapon.
Spear
A plant shoot, especially a pointed stem of asparagus or broccoli
Smoked salmon wrapped around asparagus spears
Javelin
A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
Spear
Pierce or strike with a spear or other pointed object
She speared her last chip with her fork
Javelin
A metal or metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in track and field competitions. The men's javelin is about 2.6 meters (8 1/2 feet) in length; the women's is about 2.2 meters (7 1/4 feet) in length.
Spear
A weapon consisting of a long shaft with a sharply pointed end.
Javelin
The athletic field event in which a javelin is thrown.
Spear
A shaft with a sharp point and barbs for spearing fish.
Javelin
A light spear thrown with the hand and used as a weapon.
Spear
A soldier armed with a spear.
Javelin
A metal-tipped spear thrown for distance in an athletic field event.
Spear
A slender stalk, as of asparagus.
Javelin
(transitive) To pierce with a javelin.
Spear
To pierce with a spear or other sharp object.
Javelin
A sort of light spear, to be thrown or cast by the hand; anciently, a weapon of war used by horsemen and foot soldiers; now used chiefly in hunting the wild boar and other fierce game.
Flies the javelin swifter to its mark,Launched by the vigor of a Roman arm?
Spear
To catch with a thrust of the arm
Spear a grounder.
Javelin
A wooden shaft resembling a spear, thrown by contestants in a contest called the javelin throw; the one throwing the javelin furthest wins the contest. The javelin throw is one of the field events of the modern Olympic Games.
Spear
(Football) To block (an opponent) by ramming with the helmet, in violation of the rules.
Javelin
To pierce with a javelin.
Spear
(Sports) To jab (an opponent) with the blade of a hockey stick, in violation of the rules.
Javelin
An athletic competition in which a javelin is thrown as far as possible
Spear
To stab at something with a spear or other sharp object.
Javelin
A spear thrown as a weapon or in competitive field events
Spear
To sprout like a spear.
Javelin
An athletic event where participants throw a spear-like object.
She set a new record in the Javelin throw.
Spear
A long stick with a sharp tip used as a weapon for throwing or thrusting, or anything used to make a thrusting motion.
Spear
A soldier armed with such a weapon; a spearman.
Spear
A lance with barbed prongs, used by fishermen to retrieve fish.
Spear
(ice hockey) An illegal maneuver using the end of a hockey stick to strike into another hockey player.
Spear
(wrestling) In professional wrestling, a running tackle in which the wrestler's shoulder is driven into the opponent's midsection.
Spear
A shoot, as of grass; a spire.
Spear
The feather of a horse.
Spear
The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.
Spear
A long, thin strip from a vegetable.
Asparagus and broccoli spears
Spear
(botany) The sprout of a plant, stalk
Spear
(obsolete) A church spire.
Spear
(transitive) To pierce with a spear.
Spear
To penetrate or strike with, or as if with, any long narrow object; to make a thrusting motion that catches an object on the tip of a long device.
Spear
(gridiron football) To tackle an opponent by ramming into them with one's helmet.
Spear
(intransitive) To shoot into a long stem, as some plants do.
Spear
To ignore as a social snub.
Spear
Male.
A spear counterpart
Spear
Pertaining to male family members.
The spear side of the family
Spear
A long, pointed weapon, used in war and hunting, by thrusting or throwing; a weapon with a long shaft and a sharp head or blade; a lance.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.
Spear
Fig.: A spearman.
Spear
A sharp-pointed instrument with barbs, used for stabbing fish and other animals.
Spear
A shoot, as of grass; a spire.
Spear
The rod to which the bucket, or plunger, of a pump is attached; a pump rod.
Spear
To pierce with a spear; to kill with a spear; as, to spear a fish.
Spear
To shoot into a long stem, as some plants. See Spire.
Spear
A long pointed rod used as a weapon
Spear
An implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish
Spear
Pierce with a spear;
Spear fish
Spear
Thrust up like a spear;
The branch speared up into the air
Spear
A versatile weapon for both thrusting and throwing.
He could wield the Spear with precision, whether in hand-to-hand combat or when thrown.
Spear
An ancient implement of war.
The Spear has been a crucial weapon in countless historical battles.
Common Curiosities
Is Javelin throwing still practiced today?
Yes, Javelin throwing is a prominent track and field event in modern athletics.
Were Spears only used in combat?
No, Spears were also used for hunting and fishing in various cultures.
Why is the Javelin designed to be lighter?
The Javelin's lighter design ensures it can be thrown farther and with more precision.
How do the tips of a Javelin and Spear differ?
A Javelin typically has a more streamlined tip for better aerodynamics, while Spears might have broader or varied tips designed for damage in combat.
Can a Spear be used defensively?
Yes, due to its length and sturdiness, a Spear can be used to block or parry attacks.
Are there variations of the Spear in different cultures?
Yes, many cultures have their unique Spear designs and variations based on use and tradition.
Why might someone choose a Spear over a Javelin in combat?
A Spear offers more versatility for close combat, defense, and can still be thrown if needed.
Is the Javelin used in combat today?
No, the Javelin in modern contexts is primarily an athletic implement, not a weapon of war.
Are the terms Javelin and Spear interchangeable?
No, while both are spears, a Javelin is specifically designed for throwing, and a Spear is primarily for thrusting.
What materials are Javelins made of?
Modern Javelins are often made of metal or composite materials, while ancient ones could be made of wood with metal or stone tips.
How has the design of the Javelin evolved over time?
While the basic premise remains, advancements in materials and understanding of aerodynamics have refined the Javelin's design.
Are there sporting events involving Spear throwing like the Javelin?
Not in the same sense as the modern Javelin throw. The Javelin event specifically involves throwing a standardized Javelin for distance.
Is the Spear one of the oldest weapons?
Yes, the Spear is among the oldest weapons, used by early humans for hunting and later for warfare.
Were Spears exclusive to any particular group of fighters?
No, Spears were used across various civilizations, from infantry to elite warrior classes.
How do you throw a Javelin correctly?
Proper Javelin throwing requires technique, balance, and power, often learned through coaching and practice.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
