1. a handheld device used to throw a spear or dart with greater force and distance, consisting of a shaft with a hook or cup at one end.
Usage: Also called a spear-thrower.; Used historically by Mesoamerican and other ancient cultures.; The word comes from Nahuatl (Aztec language).

Examples

• The Aztecs used the atlatl as a primary hunting and warfare weapon.
• An atlatl allowed hunters to throw projectiles with much greater speed than by hand alone.
• Archaeologists discovered atlatl hooks made from bone and stone at the ancient site.
• Modern enthusiasts sometimes recreate atlatl designs to study how ancient peoples hunted.
• The atlatl was eventually replaced by the bow and arrow in many cultures.