अस्त्र

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit अस्त्र (astra).

Noun

अस्त्र • (astr) m (Urdu spelling استر‎)

1. missile, weapon, any instrument capable of causing destruction when thrown or launched away from the user

   भाला, बाण, बम इत्यादि को अस्त्र कहते हैं।

   bhālā, bāṇ, bam ityādi ko astra kahte hain.

   Spears, arrows, bombs, etc. are examples of missiles.

Noun

अस्त्र • (astra) n

1. (√2. अस्), a missile weapon, bolt, arrow.
2. a weapon in general.
3. a sword.
4. a bow.
5. Name of a मन्त्र (pronounced, for instance, before reading a book or while kindling a fire, etc.).
6. Name of the mystical syllable फत् RāmatUp. (compare Gk. ἄστρον and ἀστήρ) ‘that which throws out or emits rays of light’

References

• Monier William's Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 2nd Ed. 1899.