Archery

Adaya:

An arrow which has missed it's target, Japan.

Alborium:

A bow made from hazel, 11th century.

Anak, Panah:

An arrow, Malay.

Anchor:

The location to which the hand that draws the bow string is positioned to when at full draw.

Anchor point:

The place where an arrows nock is drawn to before release, usually the chin, cheek, ear or chest. Used to help aiming.

Aquande-da:

The leather bracer of the Omaha.

Arbalest, Arbalete, Alblast, Arblast:

The European crossbow of the Middle Ages.

Arbalete a Cric:

A crossbow drawn by a rack and pinion.

Arbalete a Jalet, Pellet crossbow, Prodd:

A crossbow set up to shoot stones instead of bolts.

Arbalest a Tour:

A crossbow drawn by a windlass.

Arbalestina:

A cruciform aperture in a wall of a fortification from which a crossbow was shot.

Arbrier:

The stock of a crossbow.

Archer's guard:

See bracer.

Archer's paradox:

In period bows (without a shelf or centre shot) the arrow which is properly shot will fly in the line of aim although the string propelling the arrow moves directly to the centre of the bow. The arrow in fact bends around the bow after release but after passing the bow returns to its proper line of flight. See Spine.

Archer's ring, Thumb ring:

An effective Eastern method of drawing the bow string while using the thumb protected by a ring.

Archer's Stake:

A sharpened wooden stake driven into the ground pointing away from an archer to protect against cavalry.

Arcuballista:

The ancient form of ballista.

Arcubalista unis pedis:

A crossbow which only needs one foot to assist drawing the string.

Arrow:

The missile shot by an archer from a bow.

Arrow guide:

See MajrÐ"Ј, Solenarion.

Arrowhead:

The striking end of an arrow, usually made of a different type of material from the shaft such as iron, flint or bronze, depending the purpose of the arrow.

Arrowsmith:

A maker of metal arrowheads.

Ascham:

[1] A tall narrow cupboard for storage of bows and arrows.

[2] Roger Ascham, 1515 - 1568, author of Toxophilus (1545).

Arrow spacer:

A circular piece of leather pierced by 24 holes used to keep the shafts of a sheath of arrows apart from each other and prevent damage to the flights during transport.

Azusa-yumi:

A small bow used in magic, Japan.

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B

Back of the bow:

The surface of the bow furthest from the archer when they hold the bow in the firing position.

Backed bow:

A bow consisting primarily of wood but having a thin strip of a material (wood or hide) attached to the back of the bow.

Balista, Ballista:

An engine sometimes in the form of a huge crossbow, used to project darts or stone balls.

Banqui, Hanqui:

A short bow wrapped with rattan, Japan.

Barb:

A rearward turned point on an arrow head.

Barrelled:

An arrow which is thickest in the middle and tapers to the ends.

Bastard string:

A string used to draw the bow of a crossbow so that the regular string can be strung.

Bedor, Pana:

An arrow with a leaf shaped or barbed head, Java.

Bel:

A small bow used by children to shoot fish, Nicobar Islands.

Belly of the bow:

The surface of the bow closest to the archer when they hold the bow in the firing position.

Bend uter:

[1] A toy crossbow where the bolts are shot through a tube.

[2] A slur bow.

Bitla:

An arrow with a point of hard wood, Travancore.

Bodkin:

A type of arrow head.

Bois d' arc:

The French named osage orange (toxylon pomiferum) because the wood was used by the Indians of the Southwest for their bows.

Bolt, Carreau, Quarrel:

The