Dart is a small, pointed missile that is thrown or hurled as a weapon. It is used in the sport of darts.
The dart is thought to have originated in England, and it was first mentioned in print in 1455. The game of darts was first played with short arrows, and later with crossbow bolts. Darts became popular as a pub game in the 17th century. The modern game of darts evolved from an old English pastime called “throwing at cocks”, which involved throwing sharpened sticks at cockerels tethered to a post.
Darts are usually made from wood, plastic or metal, and they are fitted with feathers or plastic fletching at the back to stabilize their flight. The tips of darts are often coated with poison, which can be deadly if the dart hits an animal or person.
Dartboards are usually made from sisal fibre (derived from the agave plant), paperboard or electronic displays. The standard dartboard is circular, with 20 numbered sections ranging from 1 to 20 points, plus a bullseye worth 25 points. Dartboards are hung so that the centre of the board is eye level for a player standing on one foot with their arm extended horizontally.