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Definition of crossbow

crossbow

/ˈkrɔːs.boʊ/
cross · bow
Plural:crossbows
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crossbow Lexical Profile

crossbow Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A weapon consisting of a short bow mounted crosswise on a stock, equipped with a mechanism to draw and hold the bowstring and a trigger to release a projectile.

Example

"The museum displayed an elaborate medieval crossbow that was once used by the royal guard during defensive sieges."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for crossbow

Word Nuance & Usage

Distinct from a traditional longbow or recurve bow; a crossbow fires shorter, heavier projectiles specifically referred to as bolts or quarrels rather than standard arrows.

• Nearby Words

crossbench
crossbill
crossbones
crossbow
crossbred
crossbreed
crosscheck

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'crosbowe', a compound of 'cross' and 'bow', describing the transverse horizontal mounting of the bow assembly on a wooden stock.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Crossbow. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/crossbow
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