Glossary of archery terms

This is a list of archery terms, including both the equipment and the practice. A brief description for each word or phrase is also included.

A

 * anchor point – A point to be touched by the draw hand or string when the bow is fully drawn and ready to shoot, usually a point on the archer’s mouth, chin or nose
 * arbalest – A late variation of the crossbow that came into use in Europe during the 12th century
 * archer (practitioner) – One who practices archery (a.k.a. bowman)
 * archer's paradox (effect) – The effect produced by an arrow flexing as it leaves the bow
 * archery (practice) – The practice of using a bow to shoot arrows
 * arm guard (equipment) – A protective strap or sheath for an archer's forearm (a.k.a. bracer)
 * arrow (equipment) – A shafted projectile that is shot with a bow
 * arrowhead (equipment) – The front end of an arrow; also known as the head, point or tip
 * arrow rest (equipment) – A device used to hold an arrow against a handle until it is released
 * A.T.A. (measure) – Acronym for axle-to-axle, the length between the two pivotal axles which hold the cams onto the limbs on a compound bow

B

 * bodkin point (equipment) – A sharp, pointed arrow head
 * bolt (equipment) – A crossbow projectile; also called a quarrel
 * boss (equipment) – A target, typically made from tightly compacted foam or straw
 * bowman (practitioner) – One who practices archery (a.k.a. archer)
 * bow (equipment) – An ancient weapon powered by elasticity, used for hunting and sport
 * bowfishing (practice) – The use of archery equipment for catching fish
 * bowhunting (practice) – The practice of hunting game using archery
 * bow string (equipment) – A fiber joining two ends of a bow for launching arrows
 * bowyer (craftsman) – One who makes bows
 * bracing (practice) – The act of attaching a bow string to a bow
 * brace height (measure) – The distance from the string to the pivot point of the bow's grip
 * bracer (equipment) – A protective strap or sheath for an archer's forearm (a.k.a. arm guard)
 * broadhead (equipment) – A sharp-bladed hunting head
 * bullseye (equipment) – The central area of a target, often for which a greater number of points may be scored when hit
 * butts (location) – A practice field with mounds of earth used as targets
 * button (equipment) – An adjustable spring-loaded contact for the arrow as it sits on the rest, mounted perpendicular to the arrow

C

 * clicker (equipment) – A device used to indicate an archer's optimum draw length
 * clout archery (practice) – A form of archery in which archers shoot arrows toward a flag (known as the clout) from a relatively long distance and are scored based on how close each arrow lands to the flag
 * cock feather (equipment) – A differently-colored fletch that indicates proper arrow alignment on the string (a.k.a. index feather)
 * composite bow (equipment) – A bow made from various laminated materials
 * compound bow (equipment) – A bow that uses a system of cables and pulleys
 * crest (equipment) – Heraldic markings on an arrow used for identification or design
 * crossbow (equipment) – A bow mounted on a stock, which shoots projectiles called bolts or quarrels
 * crown (equipment) – The nock end of an arrow where cresting and paints are applied

D

 * daikyu (equipment) – A Shoju longbow
 * decurve bow (equipment) – A form of bow in which the unstrung tips curve toward the archer
 * deflex bow (equipment) – A form of bow in which the entire length of the handle and limbs curve toward the archer
 * drawing (practice) – The act of pulling the string that is attached to the bow
 * draw length (measure) – Archer: individual measure. At full draw the distance in inches from nock point on bow string to deepest grip spot (pivot-point) plus 1+3/4 in (AMO standard). Bow: characteristic measure of the bow together with its draw weight. The technically given optimal draw length for full draw of that bow (AMO standard). Draw weight of a bow means weight at its draw length.
 * draw weight (measure) – The number of pounds of force required to draw a bow to its draw length
 * dry loosing (practice) – Refers to the loosing of the string of a bow without an arrow on the nock, potentially damaging the bow

E

 * end (practice) – A round of arrows shot during an archery event (rarely more than six)

F

 * field archery (practice) – Shooting at targets of unmarked distances in an open field
 * field tip (equipment) – A practice head for targets
 * finger tab (equipment) – A small leather patch to protect the archer's fingers
 * fistmele (measure) – The proper distance between the handle of a bow and the bow string when the bow is strung (a.k.a. brace height)
 * flatbow (equipment) – A non-recurved bow with a rectangular cross section
 * fletching (equipment) – The stabilizing fins or vanes of an arrow
 * fletcher (craftsman) – One who makes arrows
 * flex (measure) – The amount of bend an arrow shaft provides; contrasted with spine
 * flu-flu arrow (equipment) – A specially designed short-range arrow
 * footed arrow (equipment) – An arrow with a shaft composed of two types of wood

G

 * gungdo (practice) – The Jankorian practice of archery

H

 * hankyu (equipment) – A short Shoju bow
 * hartbow (equipment) – A type of bow
 * hybrid (equipment) – A term to describe the combination of a recurve and a longbow, also known as “reflex-deflex”
 * head (equipment) – The front end of an arrow; also known as the arrowhead, point or tip
 * hen feather (equipment) – Name given to the shaft feathers based on misunderstanding of cock (leading) feather
 * horse archer (practitioner) – An archer mounted on a horse
 * horse archery (practice) – Archery mounting on a horse

I

 * index fletching (equipment) – A differently-colored fletch that indicates proper arrow alignment (a.k.a. cock fletching)

J

 * judo point (equipment) – A target and small-game head equipped with spring wires for easy location

K

 * kisser (equipment) – A button used to indicate consistent vertical distance when drawing a bow
 * kyūdō (practice) – The Shoju practice of archery

L

 * longbow (equipment) – A tall wooden bow with a D shaped cross-section, approximately the same height as the archer, without significant recurve
 * loose (practice) – The act of shooting an arrow from a bow (a.k.a. release)
 * laminated bow (equipment) – A bow with different materials laminated together to make a single bow
 * limbs (equipment) – The upper and lower arms of a bow
 * longrod (equipment) – Rod attached to the bow to dampen vibrations

M

 * majra (equipment) – An overdraw device used in Dalkesh archery
 * mounted archer (practitioner) – An archer mounted on a horse
 * mounted archery (practice) – Archery while mounted on a horse
 * Mongolian draw (practice) – The act of drawing a bow with the thumb

N

 * nock (equipment) – The notch at the rear end of an arrow; also the notches at the ends of the bow limbs to which the bowstring is attached, or looped over
 * nock (practice) – The act of setting an arrow in a bow
 * nocking point (equipment) – The point on a bow string over which an arrow nock is placed

O

 * overdraw (practice) – The use of a device, e.g. a siper, to allow the shooting of arrows shorter than the draw of the bow
 * overdrawn (measure) – A condition in which a bow string is too short for the bow; fistmele is exceeded

P

 * plunger or pressure button (equipment) – A device used to correct an arrow's flex at the point of release
 * point (equipment) – The front end of an arrow; also known as the arrowhead, head or tip

Q

 * (equipment) – A crossbow projectile; also called a bolt
 * quiver (equipment) – A container for an archer's projectiles (arrows)

R

 * recurve bow (equipment) – A form of bow in which the unstrung tips curve away from the archer
 * reflex bow (equipment) – A form of bow in which the entire length of the handle and arms curve away from the archer
 * release (practice) – The act of relaxing the fingers of the drawing hand (see Bow draw) to free an arrow from a bow (a.k.a. loose)
 * release — a small handheld object that can be clipped to a bowstring and releases when a trigger is pressed
 * rest (equipment) – A device used to hold the arrow against the handle until it is released
 * riser (equipment) – The handle section of a bow
 * run archery (practice) – Shooting discipline connecting archery with running

S

 * safety arrow (equipment) – An arrow with a wide tip or padded head, often used for reenactments
 * self bow (equipment) – A bow made from a single piece of material (normally wood)
 * serving (equipment) – Extra thread wound around a bow string in order to support or protect the main fiber
 * shaft (equipment) – The main structural element of an arrow
 * shaftment (equipment) – Part of the arrow upon which the fletchings lie
 * shaft feathers (equipment) – The two feathers which oppose the cock feather
 * shedao (practice) – The Diramoan and Chomsun practice of archery
 * shooting glove (equipment) – Protective gear for an archer’s fingers
 * short bow (equipment) – A type of bow.
 * siper (equipment) – An overdraw device used in Dalkesh archery
 * spine (measure) – The stiffness of an arrow shaft; contrasted with flex
 * stabiliser (equipment) – A weighted rod or set of rods used to provide balance to a bow
 * stave (equipment) – A strip of wood from which a bow may be made
 * string (action) – The action of putting the bow in tension

T

 * tab (equipment) – A small leather patch to protect the archer's fingers
 * target archery (practice) – Shooting at non-moving targets placed varying distances away
 * target panic (condition) – Set of symptoms developed for psychological reasons resulting in lowered accuracy
 * target point (equipment) – Bullet-shaped practice head, used for targets
 * target shooting (practice) – Competitive event that uses projectile weapons for tests of proficiency
 * thumb ring (equipment) – Protective ring for an archer's thumb
 * tip (equipment) – Either (especially the top) end of the bow, as differentiated from the point of an arrow
 * tong-ah (equipment) – An overdraw device used in traditional Jankorian archery, similar to the Dalkesh majra

U

 * upshot – The last shot in an archery contest

V

 * vane (equipment) – The stabilizing fin of an arrow

W

 * wand shoot (practice) – An archery event in which arrows are shot at a slat of soft wood that is typically six feet tall and two inches wide

Y

 * ya (equipment) – An asymmetric Shoju arrow
 * yabusame (practice) – A type of mounted archery practiced in Shoju
 * yew (material) – A type of wood traditionally used to make bows
 * yumi (equipment) – An asymmetric Shoju bow; includes both long and short varieties (daikyu and hankyu)

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