The Crossbow Defined

Revised 19 September 2001

I am the first to admit that I am rather a novice in the ways of crossbows, but I will do my best to help you understand the parts of the crossbow, and help with some terminology surrounding the crossbow. I have also added a number of terms for regular bows. Some terms apply to both, while others only apply to one. For you graphically oriented people, a diagram of a crossbow labeling a number of the terms defined here can be found at the end of the following list of definitions. If I have forgotten anything, please let me know!

CROSSBOW TERMINOLOGY

• arbalest (also: crossbow, ballista): a medieval weapon consisting of a bow fixed transversely on a stock having a trigger mechanism to release the bowstring, and often incorporating or accompanied by a mechanism for bending the bow.

• arbalist: see: arbalest

• arblast: see: arbalest

• archer: a person who shoots with a bow and arrow; bowman.

• armbrust: usually referring to bullet crossbow

• arrow: usually refers to the projectile used in connection with a hand bow.

• back of bow: The side of the bow facing away from the archer.

• ballista (also: crossbow, arbalest): usually describes a large medieval weapon consisting of a bow fixed transversely on a stock having a trigger mechanism to release the bowstring, and often incorporating or accompanied by a mechanism for bending the bow. Latin: 'a missile projector'.

• barebow: shooting without the use of aiming sights.

• barreled crossbow (also: slurbow): a crossbow with a wooden leaf on the top of the tiller with a slot on each side for the string. This device would have been useful for shooting in vertical or near vertical situations, or for mounted crossbowmen, who could keep the crossbow spanned and loaded while riding without the possibility of the bolt falling from the lath.

• bastard string (also: bracing string): a string used to brace a crossbow in order to install the bowstring

• belly: the side of the bow facing the archer.

• belt and claw: a device used to span a crossbow. It consists of a belt with a rope attached to it at the front of the body, with a claw or hook attached to the end of the rope. The crossbowman spans the crossbow by bending down, attaching the hook to the string. The act of standing up spans the crossbow. Similar to the cord and pulley mechanism for spanning a crossbow.

• bend (also: span): the act of drawing the string back to the nut or catch of a crossbow.

• bending lever: see: goat's foot

• binding (also: bridle): cord (usually sinew) used to tie the lath to the stock of a crossbow

• bolt: 1) The projectile that a crossbow shoots. 2) An arrow, esp. a short, heavy one for a crossbow. 3) To shoot or discharge (a missile), as from a crossbow or catapult.

• bolt channel (also: track): groove on the top of the tiller used to align and hold the bolt.

• bow arm: the arm that holds the bow.

• bowyer: a person who makes bows.

• braced bow: a bow that is strung and ready for shooting. This does not mean that the bow is cocked, just that the string is attached to the bow.

• bracing string (also: bastard string): a string used to brace a crossbow in order to install the bowstring

• bridle (also: binding): cord (usually sinew) used to tie the lath to the stock of a crossbow

• broadhead: a type of arrowhead, used mainly for hunting.

• bullet crossbow: a crossbow that is designed to shoot small stones, pellets, or steel balls.

• butt: the rearmost portion of the tiller.

• cast: the distance a bow can propel an arrow

• catch (see: nut): the device on a crossbow that holds the string back when the crossbow is spanned.

• Chinese lock: the oldest known form of catch for a crossbow, dating from the Han Dynasty (206 BCE [Before Common Era] - 221 CE). The string is held by a catch with two prongs that stand vertically when the crossbow is spanned. The bolt is placed in between the two catches. I hinged lever pushes the catch on one side (which forces the second catch down) forcing it to rotate forward until the string is loosed.

• claw: 1. a hook attached to a string and a belt that latches on to the string and allows the crossbowman to span the crossbow by standing up. 2. a catch mechanism similar to the tumbler mechanism utilizing a transverse notch. Unlike the tumbler mechanism, the claw mechanism does not have a lower jaw, and uses a more curved upper jaw to hold the string.

• clip: a spring used to hold a bolt against the crossbow prior to shooting.

• cock: to draw the bow string into a latched position

• cocking lugs: metal pins attached to the tiller that are used to anchor bending devices such as a goat's foot, cranequin or similar.

• composite bow: a bow made from more than one type of material. Composite bows are often stronger and more resilient than plain wooden bows, and are more resilient and less likely to break than metal bows.

• cord and pulley: a mechanism for spanning a crossbow. It consists of a belt with a rope attached to it at the front of the body, with a claw or hook attached to a pulley on the rope. The crossbowman spans the crossbow by bending down, attaching the hook to the string and the free end of the rope to the belt. The act of standing up spans the crossbow. similar to the belt and claw mechanism for spanning a crossbow.

  
  

  
  

• cranequin (also: cric, rack): a mechanism for spanning a crossbow utilizing a winding device that moves along a ratchet bar via the use of toothed wheels

• cric (also: cranequin, rack): a mechanism for spanning a crossbow utilizing a winding device that moves along a ratchet bar via the use of toothed wheels

• crossbow (also: arbalest, ballista): a medieval weapon consisting of a bow fixed transversely on a stock having a trigger mechanism to release the bowstring, and often incorporating or accompanied by a mechanism for bending the bow. (Thanks to Mr. Webster (of dictionary fame) for that definition.)

• dardo: Italian, a bolt with 2-3 steel points used for hunting.

• discharge (see: loose, shoot, (and fire)): releasing a bolt from a crossbow

• fast: a traditional command for archers to "hold fast the string, and come down!"

• fire (see: discharge, loose, and shoot): a term that should not be used for the process of releasing a bolt from a crossbow, as the word 'fire' refers to gunpowder weapons. 'Firing' a bolt should only be used when describing a flaming bolt.

• fletching: the feathers or vanes on an arrow or bolt.

• gaffle (also: goat's foot): a mechanism for spanning a crossbow. The gaffle or Goat's foot is a two-pronged metal fork attached to the belt of the crossbowman. A crossbow designed to be used with a goat's foot, is fitted with a stirrup at the front (resembling a handle). The crossbowman would fit the string onto the goat's foot, put his foot in the stirrup and tread down, thus pulling the crossbow downwards while the string is being held by the goat's foot

• gastraphetes: "stomach weapon," a Greek weapon similar to a crossbow that is held low at the stomach

• goat's foot (also: gaffle): a mechanism for spanning a crossbow. The gaffle or Goat's foot is a two-pronged metal fork attached to the belt of the crossbowman. A crossbow designed to be used with a goat's foot, is fitted with a stirrup at the front (resembling a handle). The crossbowman would fit the string onto the goat's foot, put his foot in the stirrup and tread down, thus pulling the crossbow downwards while the string is being held by the goat's foot.

• handbow: a "traditional" bow, or not a crossbow. Any bow that does not have a mechanical latch for holding the bowstring in the cocked position.

• handle riser: the center part of a bow.

• hinged arm lever: a mechanism for spanning a crossbow utilizing a lever with a hinged arm attached to it that pushes the string back to the catch.

• hinged lever: a type of trigger for a crossbow

• inverted 'L' lever: a type of trigger for a crossbow utilizing a transverse notch whereby the area of the lever near the 'L' bend pushes the string out of the transverse notch.

• jointed bow: a two piece bow

• latch: the mechanism in the tiller of a crossbow to hold the bowstring in the cocked position, which also releases the bowstring when the trigger is released.

• lath (lathe) (also: prod): The old term for the bow portion of a crossbow. The portion of the crossbow that is flexed back and that gives the bolt its force and motion.

• loose (also: discharge, shoot(and fire)): releasing a bolt from a crossbow.

• nock: 1. a groove on the back of a bolt or arrow into which the bow string is placed, 2. one or more grooves on either end of a bow which hold the bowstring in place.

• nocking point: the point on the string at which the arrow should be located for precise shooting

• nut: a round catch/trigger mechanism with one or more notches in it used as a catch for the string of a spanned crossbow.

• peg-and-hole: a simple catch/trigger mechanism using a lever attached to the bottom of the tiller that pushes a peg up, forcing the string out of a transverse notch.

• prod (also: lath (lathe)): The modern term for the bow portion of a crossbow. The portion of the crossbow that is flexed back and that gives the bolt its force and motion.

• prodd: A stonebow.

• pulzone: Italian, large bolt with a blunt tip, used with very heavy crossbows to stun the target rather than pierce thetarget

• quadrello: Italian, a 'homicidal bolt' with a pyramidal tip with a square base, and leather wings wound around the shaft to make the bolt rotate in flight. Note: this bolt was (and may still be) only available on the black market due to it's deadliness.

• quarrel: a square headed bolt.

• rack (also: cranequin, cric): a mechanism for spanning a crossbow utilizing a winding device that moves along a ratchet bar via the use of toothed wheels.

• release: to let the string go, sending an arrow into flight.

• screw and handle: a spanning mechanism roughly similar to a cranequin. The screw and handle are built onto the crossbow, and the screw portion is mounted lengthwise inside the tiller. The handle pulls the threaded screw backwards, and a hook on the end of the threaded screw pulls the string back to the catch.

• sear (sear contact): the point of contact between the nut and the trigger.

• self bow: a bow made entirely from one piece of material.

• serving: material, usually thread, wrapped around the bowstring to prevent the arrow or the releasing device (be it hand for bows, or a nut for crossbows) from fraying the string.

• shaft: the main part of a bolt or arrow, that part lying between the point and the nock.

• shoot (also: discharge, loose, (and fire)): releasing a bolt from a crossbow.

• slurbow (also: barreled crossbow): a crossbow with a wooden leaf on the top of the tiller with a slot on each side for the string. This device would have been useful for shooting in vertical or near vertical situations, or for mounted crossbowmen, who could keep the crossbow spanned and loaded while riding without the possibility of the bolt falling from the lath. Use of the term slurbow is vague, and very rare.

• socket insert in the tiller in which the nut or tumbler sits.

• span (also: bend): the act of drawing the string back to the nut or catch of a crossbow.

• spine: a measure of the bending factor of an arrow, applying to bow archery, in which the arrow is forced to bend around the bow when released, measured in hundredths of an inch deflection when a 1.5 pound weight is hung on the center of the arrow.

• stirrup: a sturdy metal or rope loop on the tip of the lath to put one's foot through to aid in hand spanning a crossbow.

• stock (see also: tiller): The modern term for the bar that supports the bow. The stock is positioned at a right angle to the bow. The main body of a crossbow.

• stonebow: a crossbow designed to shoot a spherical missile

• string: The string is merely the strand of string, sinew, hemp, etc. that is stretched between the ends of the bow that delivers the bows energy to the bolt or arrow. The string is pulled back, bending the bow in the process. The bolt or arrow is placed in front of the string, and when the string is released, it travels forward at a high rate of speed, sending the bolt or arrow flying.

• strop: also, strap. a rope or a band of metal surrounding and supporting a block, deadeye, etc.a metal band surrounding the pulley of a block to transmit the load on the pulley to its hook or shackle. (Thanks to Mr. Webster (of dictionary fame) for this definition.)

• tiller (see also: stock): The old term for the bar that supports the bow. The tiller is positioned at a right angle to the bow. The main body of a crossbow. (Derived from the old English word for beam.)

• track (also: bolt channel): groove on the top of the tiller used to align and hold the bolt.

• trigger: any mechanism or device used to release the string from the catch

• trip lever: (until I scan the picture I have of this, I am going to quote from W.F. Patersons book A Guide to the Crossbow, because I cannot describe it better than he did) 'A rectangular notch is cut in the base of the transverse notch, through which a 'T'-shaped trigger [WolfSoul's note: it looks more like the number 1 (right side up) to me] is inserted. The horizontal top bar of this trigger has, roughly, a triangular cross-section and it is so shaped that, when the drawn string is seated behind it, the bottom end of the trigger arm beneath the tiller is pressed forward. When this is drawn back, the angle of the rear face allows the string to jump out of the notch.'

• transverse notch: a groove cut into the top of the tiller perpendicular to the length of the tiller that acts as a catch for the string when it is drawn back.

• tumbler: a catch/trigger mechanism utilizing a transverse notch. When the string is drawn back to the catch, it is placed between the forward facing upper and lower jaw which then rotate forward and trap the string against a transverse notch.

• verretto: Italian, bolt used for target competitions with an iron conical point and 25 inch shaft made of wood, steel, or cow horn.

• weight-in-hand: the actual physical weight of a bow, not it's draw weight or power.

• windage: the amount of drift in the flight of an arrow or bolt caused by the wind.

• windlass: a mechanism used to span a crossbow utilizing a hook and a hand crank, sometimes utilizing a pulley system.