An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A slender, straight, generally pointed missile or weapon made to be shot from a bow and equipped with feathers at the end of the shaft near the → nock, for controlling flight (Dictionary.com). → Sagitta.

Etymology (EN): M.E. arewe, arwe, O.E. earh, possibly borrowed from O.N. ör;
ultimately from PIE *arku- “bow and/or arrow,” → arc.

Etymology (PE): Peykân “arrow, javelin” (cognate with afkan-, afkandan “to throw, cast away,” parâkan-, parâkandan “to scatter, to disperse”),
ultimately from Proto-Iranian *paiti-kan- “to throw against,” from *paiti- “against, opposite, back” (cf. Mod.Pers. pâd- “against, contrary to;” Mid.Pers. pât-; O.Pers. paity “against, back, opposite to, toward, face to face, in front of;” Av. paiti; Skt. práti “toward, against, again, back, in return, opposite;” Pali pati-; Gk. proti, pros “face to face with, toward, in addition to, near;” PIE *proti) + *kan- “to throw.”