Archery Glossary

By Isaac X-S.

The following is a list of forty bow and arrow related terms that any good archer would know. A player who is role-playing an archery-centered character (i.e. Longbowman O.C.C.) can include some of these terms in his character’s lingo to make him sound like a competent archer.

Aiming Style

The method or style used to aim a bow and arrow in an attempt to hit a mark.

Anchor Point

The spot to which an archer pulls the bowstring back when in full draw. This point is usually the cheek or corner of the mouth, though it can also be the center of the chest for short bows.

Archer

Someone who is proficient in the use a bow and arrow.

Arrowhead

The “business end” of the arrow.

Arrownock

The slot at the end of the arrow into which the bowstring fits.

Arrow Shaft

The body of the arrow.

Arrow Shelf

A small notch cut just above the bow’s handle where the arrow can lay upon when nocked. It can also come in the form of a small wedge attached to the bow.

Arrowsmith

A specialized blacksmith who makes metal arrowheads for a living.

Barbs

The tiny points that run along the ends of a feather’s vanes. Also refers to the rearward points used on barbed arrowheads.

Bow Nock

The notch at each tip of the bow limbs that holds the bowstring when strung.

Bowstring

The cord part of the bow that is “drawn”.

Bowyer

A person who makes bows for a living.

Brace

To bend the bow and attach the bowstring to the bow nocks.

Brace Height

The distance between the bowstring when its strung and the front of the bow (the side facing the archer in shooting position).

Breaking Point

The minimum amount of weight necessary to cause a bowstring to break.

Cant

Holding the bow in an angled or sideways position.

Cast

This is the furthest distance a given bow will shoot an arrow.

Cock Feather

The fletch that rests perpendicular to the bowstring. Only three-fletch arrows truly have cock feathers. Also called an index feather.

Draw Length

The measure of how far apart an archer’s arms are spread in full draw position.

Draw Weight

The amount of weight necessary to pull a bowstring into full draw. Also known as pull weight.

Fletch

One of the feathers at the end of an arrow. Also means ‘to attach a feather to the end of an arrow’.

Fletcher

A person who attaches feathers to arrow shafts for a living.

Full Draw

The point at which the bowstring is pulled completely back to the anchor point when in shooting position.

Hen Feathers

The other feathers besides the cock feather. Also called shaft feathers. Note that hen feather is not a reference to the gender of the bird from which the feathers were taken.

Let-Off

The reduction in draw weight that occurs when a compound bow is pulled into full draw position.

Limb

The “arm” of the bow. There is a limb coming off the top and bottom of the riser. These are the portions of the bow that bend when the bowstring is braced and drawn.

Nocking Point

The center spot on a bowstring onto which the arrow is nocked. Some bowstrings have nock locators, a small bead or extra serving that helps the archer maintain a consistent nocking point.

Partial Draw

When the bowstring is drawn to any point below one’s draw length.

Release Technique

The method or style used to hold an arrow in drawn position and then release it.

Riser

The thick, non-bending center section of the bow that "rises" between the limbs; the handle.

Self Arrow

An arrow that is made from one piece of material. The arrowhead is shaped from the shaft and the nock is a self nock.

Self Nock

A nock that is cut directly from the material of the shaft.

Serving

The layer of thread wrapped around the center and ends of the bowstring. It serves to protect the bowstring from wear and tear, greatly extending its life.

Shaftment

The chosen material from which an arrow shaft is made. This can be wood, horn, bone, or metal.

Snap Shooting

Firing an arrow quickly for the purposes of speed, sometimes not even bringing the bow to full draw. See the Snap Shooting skill above.

Spine

The stiffness and elasticity of an arrow shaft.

Timber Hitch

A unique kind of knot that secures the bowstring to the lower nock of the bow. It is an adjustable loop that can be used to change the length of the string. Timber hitches are used exclusively with the western twist string style.

Torque

The undesirable slight twisting and contorting action performed by bows when an arrow is released.

Trick Shooting

The practice of firing an arrow with a bow in unconventional ways.

Vanes

The parts that line either side of a feather’s shaft.