# dart

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɑːt/ · frequency rank #14,505

## Definitions
1. A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; for example, a short lance or javelin.
2. Any sharp-pointed missile weapon, such as an arrow.
3. Anything resembling such a missile; something that pierces or wounds like such a weapon.
4. A small object with a pointed tip at one end and feathers at the other, which is thrown at a target in the game of darts.
5. A cigarette.
6. A dart-shaped target towed behind an aircraft to train shooters.
7. A plan or scheme.
8. A sudden or fast movement.
9. A fold that is stitched on a garment.
10. A dace (fish) (Leuciscus leuciscus).
11. Any of various species of hesperiid butterfly.

## Etymology
From Middle English dart, from Old French dart, dard (“dart”), from Medieval Latin dardus, from Frankish *darōþu (“dart, spear”), from Proto-Germanic *darōþuz (“dart, spear”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰerh₃- (“to leap, spring”).
Compare Old High German tart (“javelin, dart”), Old English daroþ, dearod (“javelin, spear, dart”), Swedish dart (“dart, dagger”), Icelandic darraður, darr, dör (“dart, spear”).

## Easily confused with
- **Dr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dr)
- **DT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dt)
- **day** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-day)
- **dry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dry)
- **der** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-der)
- **dot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dot)
- **das** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-das)
- **dat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dat)
- **Dre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dre)
- **DAW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-daw)
- **Dax** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dax)
- **DRC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-drc)
- **DDT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-ddt)
- **DRM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-drm)
- **dit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dit)
- **dor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dor)
- **DDR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-ddr)
- **DNR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dnr)
- **dur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dur)
- **DRI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dart-vs-dri)

## Common misspellings (6)
`adrt`, `darrt`, `dartt`, `datr`, `ddart`, `drat`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dart