- dart (n.)
- early 14c., from Old French dart "throwing spear, arrow," from Proto-Germanic *darothuz cognates: Old English daroð, Old High German tart, Old Norse darraþr "dart"). Italian and Spanish dardo are said to be from Germanic by way of Old Provençal.
- dart (v.)
- late 14c., "to pierce with a dart," from dart (n.). Meaning "to move like a dart" is attested from 1610s. Related: Darted; darter; darting.