Crossbow Glossary

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A Glossary of Crossbow Terminology
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A Glossary of Crossbow Terminology size=4>
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ARMBRUST - German language term for crossbow which is often preferred in international circles.
ARROW - Synonym for bolt which is preferred by some modern crossbow manufacturers.
BALLISTA - Roman seige engine similar to oversized crossbow.
BARR - Section of the stock between the latch and lath; sometimes used as synonym for track.
BARR ED CROSSBOW - Crossbow having a tubular barrel rather than a track; used to shoot balls, usually of lead; synonym for slurbow. BASTARD STRING - String to brace a crossbow for installation of bowstring; synonym for bracing string.
B T HOOK - Metal hook(s) attached to belt to aid cocking.
BENDING LEVER - Hindged lever to aid cocking; pushes string back using lugs or a ring mounted at front of crossbow; provides mechanical advantage of about 5:1, varying with lever length.
BINDING - See BRIDLE.
BOLT - Short projectile for crossbow resembling arrow.
BOLT CHANN - See TRACK.
BOW - See LATH.
BOW IRONS - Metal fittings used to secure lath to stock; usually tightened with metal wedges.
BOWSTE - Steel lath.
BOWSTRING - String used on all archery weapons to transfer force from bow to projectile.
BRACING STRING - See BASTARD STRING.
BRIDLE - Binding, usually of twisted sinew cord, used to tie lath to stock on medieval crossbows.
BULLET CROSSBOW - Crossbow designed to shoot bullets; generally used in reference to double-string types.
BUTT - Rearmost portion of crossbow stock; also refers to earthen mound used in long range target shooting.
CATCH - See LATCH and SAFETY.
CENTER-SHOT - Bow or crossbow lath designed so that the arrow/bolt passes through its center; center-shot crossbows often have two separate limbs.
CLEAN DRAW- See POWER STROKE.
CLIP - Spring used to secure bolt to cocked crossbow prior to shooting; usually made of horn or metal.
CL0CKING LUGS - Metal protruberances on crossbow for anchoring bending lever, cranequin or goat's foot.
COCKING PEG - Peg required to set some crossbow trigger mechanisms prior to cocking.
COCKING RING - Metal ring bound to the front of the lath to anchor bending lever.
COCKSCOMBING - Method of serving sometimes used on loops of crossbow bowstrings.
COBMPOSITE - Combination of materials used to construct lath including horn, wood, sinew and baleen.
COMPOUND - Modern lath construction using cables and eccentric pulleys.
CORD AND PULLEY - Cocking aid consisting of cord with ends attached to crossbow butt and user's belt running through a pulley attached to bowstring; provides mechanical advantage of 2:1.
CRANEQUIN - Cocking device using rack and pinion; can provide mechanical advantage of about 145:1, varying with size and number of teeth.
DOG'S FOOT- See GOAT'S FOOT.
DOUBLE STRING - Complex form of bowstring designed to launch round projectiles from crossbow; has leather pouch at center to hold ball.
DRY-FIRE - To release cocked bowstring without projectile; term borrowed from firearms.
ENDCAP - Protective cap to protect rear of bolt; similar to arrow nock, but not forked.
FIRE - To light incendiary crossbow projectile; often used incorrectly as synonym for shoot or loose.
FOOTCLAW - See STIRRUP.
GAFFLE - See GOAT'S FOOT.
GASTRAPHETES - Greek weapon described by Heron of Alexandria similar to crossbow; literally "stomach weapon".
GOAT'S FOOT - Two-piece hindged cocking lever designed to pull bowstring from behind latch (curved shape of lever vaguely resembles goats leg); provides mechanical advantage of about 5:1, varying with lever length.
GROOVE - See TRACK.
HANDBOW - Term used to distinguish hand-held bow from crossbow.
LATCH - Mechanism for holding crossbow bowstring in cocked position, and for releasing bowstring when trigger is pulled. Synonym for catch.
LATH - Bow portion of a crossbow; synonym for prod.
LOOSE - To launch an archery missle.
MANUBALLISTA - Smaller form of ballista.
NOCK - Forked protective cap on rear of bolt; usually necessary with trackless crossbows to keep bolt in contact with string.
NOSE - Forward end of crossbow; sometimes used to refer to assembly attaching lath to stock.
NUT - Cylindrical latch usually made of ivory or antler.
PAVISE - Large shield used to protect military crossbowmen in the field while loading and shooting.
P LET CROSSBOW - See BULLET CROSSBOW; usually low powered weapon.
POWER STROKE - Distance between braced and cocked string positions as measured along track.
PROD - See LATH; term also used as name for light bullet crossbows (also spelled PRODD).
R EASE MECHANISM - See LATCH.
QUARR - Bolt with four-sided head; often used as synonym for bolt.
RISER - Thick, non-bending center section of bow or lath.
SAFETY - Mechanical device, usually in the form of a button or lever, used to prevent crossbow from shooting unintentionally.
SCORPION - See MANUBALLISTA.
SERVING - Wrapping of thread used to protect the center and loops of bowstrings.
SET TRIGGER - Trigger which may be set to release under very light pressure; 'hair trigger'.
SHOOT - See LOOSE.
SLED - Guide attached to the center of crossbow bowstring to lessen string wear and insure exact centering of the string when cocking.
SLURBOW - See BARR ED CROSSBOW.
SPANNER - General term for any device used to cock crossbows; possibly origin of English term for wrench.
STIRRUP - Device for holding the crossbow with feet while cocking; usually 'D' or 'T' shaped, sometimes made from webbing or rope.
STOCK - Portion of the crossbow to which all other components are attached and by which it is held.
STONEBOW - See BULLET CROSSBOW.
TASS - Traditional archery accessory worn on belt to clean bolts or arrows.
TILLER - See STOCK.
TOMMY-BAR - Type of bow iron tightened using threaded rods instead of wedges.
TRACK - Grooved portion of the crossbow between the lath and latch where the bolt rides.
TRACKLESS - Crossbow with an bolt rest in front instead of a full-length groove; forked nocks usually necessary to maintain contact between bolt and string.
WINDER - General term for windlass or cranequin.
WINDLASS - Crossbow cocking device using a system of pulleys and cords; provides mechanical of about 45:1 depending on construction.