BOW, a weapon made of wood, horn, or some other elastic substance, and bent into a curve, in which position it is kept by a string fastened to each end. The elastic power thus acquired, is such, that after bending, and unbending, an arrow is impelled with great force.
The long-bow, so called by way of distinction from the cross-bow, is the most ancient of all weapons, and has very generally been used by remote and barbarous nations. The Laplanders, who support themselves principally by hunting, excel the most civilized nations in the construction of this instrument. Their bow is composed of two pieces of strong elastic wood, of an equal size, which are flat on each side, and glewed together. This instrument expels the arrow with much greater force than if it were formed of one piece of similar dimensions.
The Indians still make use of the bow; and the repository of the Royal Society contains a West-Indian bow two yards long.
In the year 1749 a bow and quiver containing twenty-four arrows, made of reed, pointed with steel, and bearded, were found in the New Forest, Hampshire, supposed to have lain there since the reign of William Rufus, who was shot there 649 years previous to their discovery: the reeds were not decayed, nor the steel points rusty.
The strength of a bow is calculated on the principle, that its spring or elastic power is proportionate to the extent of its curve. The use of the bow is termed archery, and those who practise it, are called bowmen, or archers.—See Archery.
Cross-bow. This weapon consists of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, with a string and trigger. It is bent by means of a piece of steel, and expels bullets, large arrows, darts, &c. with great velocity.