noun
crossbow
KROS-boh
noun
1
A weapon that shoots short arrows called bolts, made from a bow mounted crosswise on a stock.
"Medieval soldiers used crossbows because they required less training than longbows."
How to Use Crossbow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mechanical bow-and-arrow weapon that fires bolts, historically used in warfare and hunting.
Common pairings
fire a crossbow
crossbow bolt
Word Forms
crossbows plural
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Medieval soldiers used _____ because they required less training than longbows.
Etymology
From Middle English crosbowe, formed from "cross" plus "bow," describing the bow's crosswise mounting.