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Added 9 October 2026

dart

/dɑːt/ noun

In Latin: rūna Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about dart at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; for example, a short lance or javelin.
Any sharp-pointed missile weapon, such as an arrow.
Anything resembling such a missile; something that pierces or wounds like such a weapon.

verb

To throw with a sudden effort or thrust; to hurl or launch.
To send forth suddenly or rapidly; to emit; to shoot.
As the sun darted forth his beams, she darted a meaningful glance at me.
To shoot with a dart, especially a tranquilizer dart.
They had to dart the animal to get close enough to help

Origin

From Middle English dart, from Old French dart, dard (“dart”), from Medieval Latin dardus, from Frankish *darōþu (“dart, spear”), from Proto-Germanic *darōþuz (“dart, spear”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerh₃- (“to leap, spring”). Compare Old High German tart (“javelin, dart”), Old English daroþ, dearod (“javelin, spear, dart”), Swedish dart (“dart, dagger”), Icelandic darraður, darr, dör (“dart, spear”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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