BOW, a weapon of offence made of steel, wood, horn, or other elastic substances, which, after being bent by means of a string fastened to its two ends, in returning to its natural state, throws out an arrow with prodigious force.
The use of the bow is, without all doubt, of the earliest antiquity. It has likewise been the most universal of all weapons, having obtained amongst the most barbarous and remote people, who had the least communication with the rest of mankind.
The figure of the bow is pretty much the same in all countries, where it has been used; for it has generally two inflexions or bendings, between which, in the place where the arrow is drawn, is a right line. The Grecian bow was in the shape of a , of which form we meet with many, and generally adorned with gold or silver. The Scythian bow was distinguished.
ringuished from the bows of Greece and other nations, by its incurvation, which was so great, as to form an half moon or femicircle. The matter of which bows were made, as well as their size, differed in different countries. The Persians had very great bows made of reeds; and the Indians had also, not only arrows, but bows made of the reeds or canes of that country; the Lycian bows were made of the cornel tree; and those of the Ethiopians, which surpassed all others in magnitude, were made of the palm-tree.
Though it does not appear, that the Romans made use of bows in the infancy of their republic, yet they afterwards admitted them as hostile weapons, and employed auxiliary archers in all their wars.
In drawing the bow, the primitive Grecians did not pull back their hand towards their right ear, according to the fashion of modern ages, and of the ancient Persians, but, placing their bow directly before them, returned their hand upon their right breast. This was also the custom of the Amazons.
The bow is a weapon of offence amongst the inhabitants of Asia, Africa, and America, at this day; and in Europe, before the invention of fire-arms, a part of the infantry were armed with bows. Lewis XI. first abolished the use of them in France, introducing, in their place, the halbard, pike, and broad sword. The long bow was formerly in great vogue in England, and many laws were made to encourage the use of it. The parliament under Henry VII. complained of the disuse of long bows, heretofore the safeguard and defence of this kingdom, and the dread and terror of its enemies.
Bow is also an instrument formerly used at sea for taking the sun's altitude; consisting of a large arch of ninety degrees graduated, a shank or staff, a shade vane, a sight vane, and an horizon vane. It is now out of use. Bow, among builders, a beam of wood or brass, with three long screws, that direct a lath of wood or steel to any arch; chiefly used in drawing draughts of ships, and projections of the sphere; or where-ever it is requisite to draw large arches.
Bow, in music, a small machine, which, being drawn over the strings of a musical instrument, makes it resound. It is composed of a small stick, to which are fastened eighty or an hundred horse-hairs, and a screw which serves to give these hairs the proper tension. In order that the bow may touch the strings briskly, it is usual to rub the hairs with rosin.
Bow, among artificers, an instrument so called from its figure; in use among gunsmiths, locksmiths, watch-makers, &c. for making a drill go. Among turners, it is the name of that pole fixed to the ceiling, to which they fasten the cord that whirls round the piece to be turned.
Bow-STAVES, imported from the British plantations, are free; if from Ireland, Asia, or Africa, they pay 15s. 41/2d. for every 120; and if from any other country, 11. 2s. 101/2d. for the same number.
Bows of a saddle are two pieces of wood laid archwise to receive the upper part of a horse's back, to give the saddle its due form, and to keep it tight.
The fore-bow, which sustains the pommel, is com-
posed of the withers, the breasts, the points or toes, and the corking. See WITHERS, &c.
The hind-bow bears the trowsequin or quilted roll. The bows are covered with sinews, that is, with bulls pizells beaten, and so run all over the bows to make them stronger. Then they are strengthened with bands of iron to keep them tight, and, on the lower side, are nailed on the saddle-traps, with which they make fast the girths.
Bow of a ship, that part which begins at the loof, and compassing ends of the stem, and ends at the stern-most part of the fore-castle.
If a ship have a broad round bow, they call it a bold bow. If she has a narrow thin bow, they say she has a lean bow.