a. A short wooden implement by which a dart or spear is thrown, in order to give increased velocity to it: SPEAR-THROWER, WOOMERA. b. A short club used as a missile; THROW-STICK a.
1770. Cook, Voy. round World, III. viii. (1773), 641. An instrument which we called a throwing stick. This is a plain smooth piece of a hard reddish wood, very highly polished, about two inches broad, half an inch thick, and three feet long, with a small knob, or hook at one end, and a cross piece about three or four inches long at the other.
1802. G. Barrington, Hist. N. S. Wales, i. 26. The throwing-stick is used in discharging the spear.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, 403. For throwing the harpoon they use a short handle or throwing-stick, about two feet long.
1885. H. H. Hayter, Carboona, 24. Warrk Warrk, having a dart on his throwing-stick ready adjusted, hurled it.
1901. Athenæum, 11 May, 599/2. The throwing-stick of the Moki [Pueblo Indians] is closely related to the Australian boomerang, but does not return to the thrower.
