GLOSSARY OF TERMS

A

ARBALIST - 1. Latin language term for crossbow, derived from arcuballista (also spelled ARBALEST). 2. Arbalist also doubles as a term for the person shooting a crossbow - a crossboman.

Armbrust - German language term for crossbow which is often preferred in international circles.

Arbalet - Russian language term for crossbow. (Old Russian: Samostrel)

Arrow (component, projectile) - A crossbow projectile also known as "bolt" that is composed of shaft, point, and means of stabilization(feathers, vanes, FOB's, etc.) Arrow is a term preferred by modern crossbow manufacturers and shooters. Outside of Crossbow community referred to specifically as "Crossbow Arrow" or "Bolt".

Axle - 1.The bearing pin holding the wheel in the limbs of a compound bow. (The length of a compound bow is measured from top axle to bottom axle). 2. Axel is not only limited to cams/idler wheels, axels are also used in triggers and other mechanisms where a component has a definite axis of rotation and resides on a bearing pin (trigger mechanisms, pivoting components, etc.)

B

Back - Side of bow or prod facing the target.

Ballista (equipment) - Roman seige engine similar to oversized crossbow.

Barrel (component) - Section of the stock between the latch and lath; sometimes used as synonym for track.

Barreled Crossbow (equipment) - Crossbow having a tubular barrel rather than a track; used to shoot balls, usually of lead; synonym for "slurbow".

Belly - Side of bow or prod facing the shooter.

Belt Hook (equipment) - Metal hook(s) attached to belt to aid cocking.

Bodkin (component) - A medieval type of arrowhead designed to shoot through protective chainmail or armour usually worn by Knights.

Bolt (equipment) - Short crossbow projectile resembling arrow mainly used with Medieval Crossbows.

Bow (component) - Also know as "Prod" it is a component by means of which elastic energy is stored to be later used to propel an arrow.

Bow Irons - Metal fittings used to secure lath to stock; usually tightened with metal wedges.

Bowsteel (component) - Steel bow or prod.

Bowstring (component) - A multi stranded string of either Natural fiber, Dacron, Kevlar or Fastflight looped to the bow nocks or teardrops; used on all archery weapons to transfer force from bow to projectile.

Braced (state) - Position of bowstring when mounted on bow or prod, but not cocked.

Braced Height (measurement) - Distance between braced bowstring and belly side of riser, measured from the bowstring's center.

Bastard String (equipment) - Also known as "Bracing String", a string used to brace a crossbow for installation of bowstring.

Briddle (component) - Also referred to as "Binding", usually of twisted sinew cord or natural fiber, used to tie prod to stock on medieval crossbows.

Bullet Crossbow (equipment) - Crossbow employing a double-string pouch designed to shoot bullets, smooth stones, or baked clay balls. Used for hunting small game such as rabbits and birds. Also known as "stone-bow" or "bullet-bow".

Butt - Rearmost portion of crossbow stock; also refers to earthen mound used in long range target shooting, and as a general term for backstop.

C

Cables (component) - The steel or synthetic fiber cables that connect the string via the cams or wheels to the opposite limb of a compound bow.

Cam (component) - The wheels on a compound bow have a 'cam shape' to one side that controls the amount of force and the shape of the draw/force curve of the bow.

Cast (measurement) - The distance a bow can propel an arrow.

Center serving (component) - The protective winding on the center of the string where the arrow is nocked.

Clip (component) - A spring used to press the bolt/arrow against the crossbow track prior to release.

Cock (action) - To draw the bow string into a latched position.

Cocking lugs (component) - Metal pins protruding out of the stock; used to anchor spanning devices such as a goat's foot, cranequin or similar.

Composite bow (component) - A bow or prod made from more than one type of material. Traditional composite bows usually consist of wood, horn, and sinew. Modern composite bows consist of man manufactured fibers such as fiberglass or carbon fiber.

Compound bow (equipment) - A modern limb system that for similar poundage at full draw, stores more energy than a recurve bow through the use of cables and eccentric wheels(cams).

Cocking rope (equipment) - A rope based spanning mechanism that uses pulleys to give a 2:1 mechanical advantage.

Crossbow (equipment) - 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 spanning mechanism.

D

Dacron - A synthetic material used to make bowstrings.
Breaking strain = 50 lbs./strand. Very durable and consistent.
Available in the following colours; black, white, green, yellow, brown, bronze,
red and blue.

Draw length
The distance, measured in inches, from the pivot point of the bow to the point at which the string contacts the arrow when at full draw.

Draw weight
The force, in pounds, recoded at full draw. Usually stated '#xx@", as in #xx@yy", where xx = lbs(#) ...at... yy = inches(") of draw.

F

FastFlight - A synthetic material used to make bowstrings.
Breaking strain = 95 lbs./strand. Minimal stretch ensures consistency.
Slippery material that requires specific serving to be used.
Available in the following colours; red, blue, white, purple, light green, dark
green, yellow and black.

FastFlight S4 - A composite of Polyester 'Spectra' (FastFlight) and 'Vectran' materials used
to make bowstrings.
Breaking strain = 160 lbs./strand.
Due to its strength, less strands are required to make a bowstring, so its
lighter and faster.

Fletch - To glue a feather or vane to an arrow shaft.

Fletcher - A person who makes arrows.

Fletching - The feathers, plastic vanes or other devices attached to the arrow shaft
which stabilise the flight of the arrow.

Fletching jig - A device used to hold the arrow shaft in place and correctly locate and
align the placement of the fletching.

'Fletch-tite' - A clear glue used to apply fletching to the arrow shaft. Also used to apply
nocks to the arrow shafts.
It sets rapidly and remains slightly elastic (not brittle) to resist repeated
shock and vibration in all weather.

Flight Arrow - An arrow used in Flight Shooting. Usually very light and very stiff and
fitted with very small fletching to reduce wind drag.

Flight Bow/Crossbow - A very strong bow/crossbow specifically made for flight shooting.
Usually with 'shoot through' riser and short limbs.

Flight shooting - A discipline of archery purely aimed at attaining the longest distance able
to be shot with a bow/crossbow.

G

Group - The pattern of arrows in the target.

L

Lumenok (component, brand) - A lighted arrow nock that operates by means of a battery powered LED light housed inside the nock. Activated by bow string pressure upon release it add a tracer feature to any arrow equipped with this component. Great for low light conditions, trajectory photo-tracing, and finding would be lost arrows.

M

Mech-Bow (equipment) - A type of mechanical "hybrid" crossbow that unlike the traditional crossbows that use limbs - uses a variety of metal or gas compression/extension/torsion springs in combination with levers/cams/and idler wheels for energy storage and distribution.

N

Nock (component) - 1. the butt end of the bolt that comes in direct contact with the bow string and remains on the string as the bolt is accelerated all the way until the end of the powerstroke.. 2.Nocks used in modern arrows/bolts are separate components usually made of plastic/composite/or metal and come in a variety of shapes/sizes/and weights. Some modern nocks also may house a battery powered LED light that is triggered by bowstring pressure during the release and adds a "tracer" effect in arrows (See Lumenok) - great for low light conditions, trajectory photo-tracing, and better chances of finding an arrow altogether.

P

Prod (component)- A commonly used term for the crossbow limb, bow, or limb assembly(limb or several limbs mounted on a riser)

Q

Quarrel - A term commonly referring to a medieval style crossbow bolt.

S

Spanning Lever (equipment) - Hinged 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.

T

Trigger Mechanism(component) - The mechanism in a crossbow that serves as means of retaining and releasing the bowstring[/size]

Trigger hook(component) - Commonly referred to as "Trigger" it is a Lever type piece of metal that must be pulled with the index finger to initiate the release of the string.

Trigger Guard(component) - Metal (or sometimes hard plastic) mechanical device which partially covers the trigger and reduces the chance the weapon will be accidentally discharged.

W

Windlass (equipment) - A crossbow spanning mechanism that employes series of pulleys (blocks) to gain mechanical advantage over a a very heavy draw prod.