An object that is thrown or launched through the air, especially a weapon like a bullet, missile, or cannonball.
From Latin 'projectilis' meaning 'capable of being thrown,' derived from 'proicere' combining 'pro-' (forward) and 'jacere' (to throw). The word emerged in military contexts around the 1600s.
The root 'jacere' meaning 'to throw' is the same in 'subject,' 'object,' and 'reject'—they all describe things being thrown in different directions! It's one of the most useful Latin roots in English.
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