BOW

BOW, (arcus), a weapon of offence made of wood, horn, or other elastic matter, which, after being strongly bent, by means of a string fastened to its two ends, in returning to its natural state throws out an arrow with great force. It is also called the long-bow, by way of distinction from the cross-bow or arbalest.

The bow is the most ancient, and the most universal of

Bow. of all weapons. It has been found to obtain among the most barbarous and remote people, and who had the least communication with the rest of mankind.

The use of the bow and arrow was first abolished in France under Louis XI. in 1481, and in their place were introduced the Swiss arms, that is, the halberd, pike, and broad-sword. The long-bow was formerly in great vogue in England; most of our victories in France were acquired by it; and many laws were made to regulate and encourage its use. The parliament under Henry VIII. complain "of the diluse of the long-bow, heretofore the safeguard and defence of this kingdom, and the dread and terror of its enemies." 33 Hen. VIII. cap. 6.

The art of using bows is called archery, and those practised therein, archers or bowmen. See ARCHERY.

The strength of a bow may be calculated on this principle, that its spring, i. e. the power whereby it restores itself to its natural position, is always proportionate to the distance or space it is removed therefrom.

The most barbarous nations often excel in the fabric of the particular things which they have the greatest necessity for in the common offices of life. The Laplanders, who support themselves almost entirely by hunting, have an art of making bows, which we, in these improved parts of the world, have never arrived at. Their bow is made of two pieces of tough and strong wood, shaved down to the same size, and flattened on each side; the two flat sides of the pieces are brought closely and evenly together, and then joined by means of a glue made of the skins of perch, which they have in great plenty, and of which they make a glue superior in strength to any which we have. The two pieces, when once united in this manner, will never separate, and the bow is of much more force to expel the arrow, than it could possibly have been under the same dimensions if made only of one piece.

Among the ancients, the bow-string, called τριχοις, was made of horses' hair, and hence also called ιππικ; though Homer's bow-strings are frequently made of hides cut into small thongs: whence τρεξ βιαι. The uppermost part of the bow, to which the string was fastened, was called χορως, being commonly made of gold, and the last thing towards finishing the bow. The Grecian bows were frequently beautified with gold or silver; whence we have mention of αυροι arcus; and Apollo is called Αργυροπτοξος. But the matter of which they were ordinarily composed, seems to have been wood: though they were anciently, Scythian-like, made of horn, as appears from that of Pandarus in Homer, Iliad. 2. v. 105.

The invention of the bow is usually ascribed to Apollo, and was communicated to the primitive inhabitants of Crete, who are said to have been the first of mortals who understood the use of bows and arrows. And hence, even in later ages, the Cretan bows were famous, and preferred by the Greeks to all others. Some, however, rather choose to honour Perseus, the son of Perseus, with the invention of the bow; while others ascribe it to Scythus, son of Jupiter, and progenitor to the Scythians, who were excellent at this art, and by many reputed the first masters of it. From them it was derived to the Grecians, some of whose ancient nobility were instructed by the Scythians in the use of the bow, which in those days passed for a

most princely education. It was first introduced into the Roman army in the second Punic war.

The Indians still retain the bow. In the repository of the Royal Society we see a West Indian bow two yards long.

The Scythian bow was famous for its incurvation, which distinguished it from the bows of Greece and other nations; being so great as to form a half moon or semicircle: whence the shepherd in Athenæus, being to describe the letters in Theseus's name, and expressing each of them by some apposite resemblance, compares the third to the Scythian bow; meaning not the more modern character Σ, but the ancient C, which is semicircular, and bears the third place in ΘΗCΕVΚ.

Croft-Bow, is also called arbalest or arbalet; which word is derived from arbalista, i. e. arcubalista, "a bow with a sling." The arbalet consists of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger; and is bent with a piece of iron fitted for that purpose. It serves to throw bullets, large arrows, darts, &c. The ancients had large machines for throwing many arrows at once, called arbalets or balistæ.

Bow, is also an instrument used at sea, for taking the sun's altitude; consisting of a large arch of 90° graduated, a shank or staff, a side vane, a fight vane, and a horizon vane. It is now out of use.

Bow, among builders, a beam of wood or brass, with three long screws that direct a lathe of wood or steel to any arch; chiefly used in drawing draughts of ships and projections of the sphere, or wherever 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 80 or 100 horse hairs, and a screw which serves to give these hairs a proper tension. In order that the bow may touch the strings briskly, it is usual to rub the hairs with rosin. The ancients do not appear to have been acquainted with bows of hair: in lieu hereof they touched their instruments with a plectrum; over which our bows have great advantage, for giving long and short sounds, and other modifications which a plectrum cannot produce.

Bow, among artificers, an instrument so called from its figure; in use among gunsmiths, locksmiths, watchmakers, &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, a town of Devonshire in England, 188 miles west from London, and a little to the west of Crediton, has a weekly market, and two fairs in the year. The court of the duchy of Lancaster is commonly kept here.

Bows of a Saddle, are two pieces of wood laid arch-wise 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 composed of the withers, the breasts, the points or toes, and the corking.

The hind-bow bears the torsequin or quilted roll. The bows are covered with sinews, that is, with bull-pizzles beaten, and so run all over the bows to make them stronger. Then they are strengthened with bands

Bow. of iron to keep them tight; and on the lower side are nailed on the saddle-straps, with which they make fast the girths.