woomera

[ woo m-er-uh ]
/ ˈwʊm ər ə /

noun

a notched stick used by Australian Aborigines to propel spears or darts.
Also womera.

Origin of woomera

First recorded in 1810–20, woomera is from the Dharuk word wu-ma-ra

Words nearby woomera

woolskin, woolsorters' disease, woolwich, woolworth, wooly, woomera, woomerang, woonsocket, woop woop, woops, woorali

Example sentences from the Web for woomera

  • Forty five minutes later the reports clattered in from Cairo and Woomera.

    If at First You Don't... |John Brudy

  • As the hand moves forward the spear is released by uplifting the forefinger, and the woomera remains in the hand.

    Spinifex and Sand |David W Carnegie

  • In the handle end of the woomera a sharp flint is often set, forming a sort of chisel.

    Spinifex and Sand |David W Carnegie

British Dictionary definitions for woomera (1 of 2)

woomera

womera

/ (ˈwʊmərə) /

noun

Australian a type of notched stick used by native Australians to increase leverage and propulsion in the throwing of a spear

Word Origin for woomera

from a native Australian language

British Dictionary definitions for woomera (2 of 2)

Woomera
/ (ˈwʊmərə) /

noun

a town in South Australia: site of the Long Range Weapons Establishment. Pop: 602 (2001)