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 return- ing to its natural state, throws out an arrow with pro- digious force.

The use of the bow is, without all doubt, of the ear- liest antiquity. It has likewise been the most universal of all weapons, having obtained among the most bar- barous and remote people, who had the least commu- nication 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 inflections or bendings, between which, in the place where the arrow is drawn, is a right line. The Grecian bow was in the figure of a z, of which form we meet with many, and generally adorned with gold or silver. The Scythian bow was distinguished from the bows bows of Greece and other nations, by its incursion, which was so great as to form a half moon or semicircle.

Though it does not appear that the Romans made use of bows in the infancy of the republic, yet they afterwards admitted them as hostile weapons, and employed auxiliary archers in all their wars.

In drawing back 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 among 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 broadsword. 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 dilute of long bows, heretofore the safeguard and defence of this kingdom, and the dread and terror of its enemies.

Bow, is also an instrument used at sea, for taking the sun's altitude; consisting of a large arc of 90° graduated, a skunk or staff, a side 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 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.

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 thereof 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.

town of Devonshire in Wales, situated in W. Long. 4. o. N. Lat. 50. 45.

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 composed of the withers, the breasts, the points or toes, and the corking. See Withers, &c.

The hind-bow bears the troussequin or quilted roll. The bows are covered with fiesews, that is with bull's pizzles 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 straps, with which they make fast the girths.

Bow, Epauile, in ship-building, the rounding part of a ship's side forward, beginning at the place where the planks arch inwards; and terminated where they close, at the stem or prow. It is proved by a variety of experiments, that a ship with a narrow bow is much better calculated for sailing swiftly, than one with a broad bow; but is not so well fitted for a high sea, into which she always pitches, or plunges her fore-part very deep, for want of sufficient breadth to repel the volume of water which she so easily divides in her fall. The former of these is called by seamen a lean, and the other a bluff bow. "The bow which meets with the least resistance in a direct course, not only meets with the least resistance in oblique courses, but also has the additional property of driving the least to leeward; which is a double advantage gained by forming the bow so as to give it that figure which will be least resisted in moving through any medium."

On the Bow, in navigation, an arch of the horizon comprehended between some distant object and that point of the compass which is right a-head, or to which the ship's stern is directed. This phrase is equally applicable when the object is beheld from the ship, or discovered by trigonometrical calculation: As, we saw a fleet at day-break bearing three points on the starboard-bow; that is, three points from that part of the horizon which is right a-head, towards the right hand.*

*See the article Bear-bow-legged from their birth; others become so from setting them on their feet too early. The tibia of some is crooked; the knees of others are distorted; from a fault in the ankle, the feet of some are turned inwards. These are called varus; and in others, who are called valgus, they are turned outwards. The best method of preventing these disorders in weakly children is to exercise them duly, but not violently, by dancing or toying them about in one's arms; and not setting them much upon their feet, at least not without properly supporting them: if the disorder attends at the birth, or increases after it is begun, apply emollients, then apply boots of strong leather, wood, &c. so as gradually to dispose the crooked legs to a proper form; or other instruments may be used instead of boots, which, when not too cooly, are usually to be preferred. Slighter instances of these disorders yield to careful nursing, without instruments.

Bow-Line. See Bowling.

Bow-Pieces, are the pieces of ordnance at the bow of a ship.

Rain-Bow. See Rain-Bow.

Bow-Bearer, an inferior officer of the forest, who is sworn to make inquisition of all trespasses against vert or venison, and to attack offenders.

Bow-China. See China.