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 I always find the term "throwing" amusing since I figure it came to be used because the first person to try it got pissed off and someone saw a lump of clay flying at a wall and asked an assistant what's going on and they were told "oh, the Potter is throwing bowls."  
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 I thiiink it came from the normal way to center clay, wherein you throw a lump of clay forcefully and magically hit the center of the wheel perfectly and with enough force that the clay will stick when you start to spin and mess with it

I cannot do this šŸ˜‚ and my teacher just taught me a method that works better for me šŸ’ƒ 

Other potters let me know if Iā€™m wrong in my etymology! @BitcoinPotter @tyson 
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 That makes sense... But I like my version better  
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 me too šŸ˜‚ 
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 according to google, it's because the old english word "thrawan" meant to twist or turn, and was used to describe making pottery because the wheelhead turns round and round. the common meaning of "throw" (the derivative of "thrawan") has changed in modern english, but the "throw" is apparently still being used to describe the making of pottery.

so basically it's an etymology thing

Like you @The Beave, I would have guessed that the reason it was called throwing literally involved flying clay. Once somebody who was throwing next to me didn't lock down his bat down correctly to the wheelhead and the piece flew off a remarkable distance, passing just above my piece and below my nose.