short spear; javelin
A hand-held spear shorter than a full-length polearm, used for throwing or close combat. Often associated with historical or fantasy contexts.
Foot soldiers in the Warring States period carried short spears.
He threw a javelin at the target.
Compound of 手 (hand) and 槍 (spear), literally 'hand spear'. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it likely refers to a spear short enough to be wielded with one hand.