(*arcus*), a weapon of offence, made of wood, or other elastic matter, which, being strongly bent by means of a string fastened to its two ends, throws an arrow with great force in suddenly recovering its natural state. 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 all weapons, and is found amongst the most barbarous and remote tribes in every part of the world.

The use of the bow was first abolished in France under Louis XI., and in its place were introduced the halberd, pike, and broadsword. The long-bow was formerly greatly used in England; most of our victories in France were acquired by it, and many laws were made to regulate and encourage its use. See **ARCHERY**.

The Laplanders construct their bow of two pieces of tough wood of the same size, and flattened on each side, the two pieces being united very firmly together by means of a strong glue. A bow thus constructed possesses a much greater propulsive power than another of the same dimensions formed of a single piece.

Among the ancients, the bow-string was of horse hair; though Homer's bow-strings were frequently made of hide cut into small thongs. The tip of the bow, to which the string was fastened, was called *kopisyn*, and was frequently made of gold. The Grecian bows were frequently beautified with gold or silver; whence the epithet of *Apoxyphos* bestowed on Apollo. But the matter of which they were ordinarily composed seems to have been wood, although they were anciently, Scythian-like, made of horn, as appears from the description of the bow of Pandarus in Homer.

The invention of the bow is usually ascribed to Apollo, and it was communicated to the primitive inhabitants of Crete, who are said to have been the first of mortals that understood the use of bows and arrows. Accordingly, even in later ages, the Cretan bows were famous, and preferred by the Greeks to all others. The Scythians and the Parthians were especially celebrated for their skill in archery.

The Scythian bow was distinguished from the bows of Greece and other nations by its incurvation, which was so great as to form a half moon or semicircle; and hence the shepherd in Athenicus, describing the letters in Thesens'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 the name of the hero, ὈΗΣΕΥΣ, as spelt in ancient Greek.

**Cross-Bow** (also called *arbalest* or *arbalest*, from *arbalesta*, or rather *arcubalista*, "a bow with a sling"), a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger. It is bent with a piece of iron fitted for that purpose, and serves to project bullets, darts, and other missiles. See also **BALLISTA**.

**Bow, in Ship-Building.** See **SHIP-BUILDING**.

**Bow-Net**, an instrument for catching fish, chiefly lobsters. It consists of two round wicker baskets, pointed at the end, one of which is thrust into the other; and at the mouth there is a little rim, four or five inches broad, bent somewhat inwards.