longbow
Noun: A longbow is a type of bow that is tall, powerful, and traditionally made from a single piece of wood. It is designed to be drawn (pulled back) by hand without the use of mechanical aids. Historically, it was a significant weapon, particularly known for its use by English and Welsh archers during the medieval period.
The word longbow is used to refer specifically to this historical weapon. It is a countable noun. * It is typically described by its material (e.g., wooden longbow, yew longbow) and its historical context. * It is often contrasted with other types of bows, such as the crossbow or the composite bow.
- The English army's success at the Battle of Agincourt is often attributed to the skilled use of the longbow.
- He crafted a traditional longbow from a single stave of yew wood.
- Archaeologists discovered the remnants of a medieval longbow at the site.
- "To draw a longbow": This phrase literally means to pull back the string of a longbow to shoot an arrow. Figuratively and archaically, it can mean to exaggerate or tell a tall tale, linking the skill of the archer to the skill of a storyteller.
- The old sailor was known to draw the longbow with his stories of sea monsters.
- Bow (n): The general term for a weapon for shooting arrows.
- Archery (n): The art, practice, or skill of shooting with a bow and arrow.
- Archer (n): A person who shoots with a bow and arrow.
- Yew (n): A type of evergreen tree, the wood of which was highly prized for making traditional English longbows.
- War bow: A term sometimes used to describe powerful bows used in historical warfare, which can include the longbow.
The word longbow does not have significantly different modern meanings. Its primary and almost exclusive meaning is the historical weapon. Any other use (like the idiomatic "draw the longbow") is directly derived from this primary meaning.
- Draw the longbow: As mentioned in Advanced Usage, this is an idiomatic expression meaning to exaggerate or tell an extravagant story.
- a powerful wooden bow drawn by hand; usually 5-6 feet long; used in medieval England