Is a pilum always a javelin?

[Col.KanKrusha]

This is a question on what ancient authors meant by the use of the word "pilum" that is translated as javelin. It often seems that a "pilum" is being described as a thrusting weapon, for instance the majority of saxons are described as carrying a shield and pilum and no sword. If you only have one weapon you wouldnt throw it away would you!

I note that the heads of pili and hastae are different designs: long metal shank vs short metal head respectively. This page has pictures of both http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryEquipment-spear.html

Could it be that ancient authors were referring to the design of the weapon more than its use when using the word pilum?

[EmperorBatman999]

I'm no expert in either Latin, Roman weapons, or Saxon weapons for that matter, but I suspect that the pilum is a mistake by the authors. This sort of word misusage was frequently discussed on thread around here about whether or not the Goths used a pike-like weapon during this period. It seems to me that authors could often be quite lazy and they often got confused about the terminology of specific weapons. It was probably something similar today to somebody calling an M16 assault rifle a machine-gun, when a machine gun is usually properly talked about as being larger, heavier and et cetera.

So I suspect that the author got "hasta" and "pilum" mixed up for one another. Perhaps though the author may be talking about Saxons skirmishers armed only in lighter throwing spears.

I could be wrong and I'll wait for an expert to come and clarify.