Telum

Telum is a Latin noun meaning weapon, specifically a thrown weapon such as a spear, javelin, or dart—a missile used in warfare or hunting. In classical Latin, telum referred to the projectile itself rather than the person who threw it or the broader class of arms. The word thus characterizes a subclass of weapons distinct from melee arms like swords and from projectile systems used with bows.

In Latin grammar, telum is a neuter noun with the plural tela. The term occurs widely in Latin literature to describe missiles, fortifications, battlefield tactics, and hunting scenes. Because it denotes the projectile rather than the act of throwing, telum is often used in phrases that focus on the missile or its use.

Modern usage of telum is mostly scholarly or lexical. It appears in discussions of Latin language and military terminology, and it is occasionally encountered as a proper noun in contemporary contexts, including product names or fictional settings. Outside Latin, the root is sometimes retained in technical terminology or as a stylistic choice in naming.

Overall, telum reflects ancient Rome’s vocabulary for arms and projectiles and remains a living example of how languages distinguish different kinds of weapons.