Glossary

  A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

A
Anchor Point Consistent position of drawing hand when the bow is at full draw
Arbalist An archer who shoots crossbow
Arrow Plate Protection, just above the bow handle, where the arrow passes
Arrow shelf Flat horizontal area cut into the bow just above the bow handle
Archers Paradox Flexing of the arrow as it passes the bow
Ascham A tall narrow cupboard for bows and arrows. Named after Roger Ascham
Ascham, Roger Tutor/Coach to the Royal Family and Author of Toxophilus 1544
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B
Back of the Bow Face of the bow on the opposite side to the string
Barebow Class of shooting where sights are not permitted
Belly of the bow Face of the bow on the same side as the string
Best gold Award given to the archer in a competition who’s arrow is nearest the centre of the gold.
Blunt Flat headed pile used in popinjay shooting
Boss Name for the target
Bouncer An arrow that hits the target and rebounds from it
Bow arm The arm attached to the bow hand
Bow Hand The hand in which the bow is held
Bowman Third highest classification of GNAS
Bow sling Strap which stops the bow jumping from the hand on release
Bow Window Cut out in the riser above the handle, allows the arrow to rest centre shot
Bracer Shield, known as an arm guard, protects the forearm of the bow arm
Bracing Height Distance between the string and a specified point on the bow (usually the throat of the handle)
Butt Target or Boss, original a mound of earth to shoot at
Button Adjustable spring loaded contact for the arrow above the rest
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C
Cast The efficiency and power of the bow which is passed into the arrow
Centre Shot The position of the arrow when it is on the arrow rest and perpendicular to the string and the centre line of the bow
Clicker An audible indicator fixed to the bow to assist with a consistent arrow draw length
Clout Shooting Competition where archers shoot at a flag (Clout) on the ground, up to 180 yards
Cock Feather The fletching fixed on the arrow at right angles to the nock slot
Composite Bow A bow with limbs laminated from several materials
Compound bow A bow with eccentric wheels/cams on the ends of the limbs for cables
Creeping Allowing the arrow to move forward from full draw prior to loose
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D
Dominant Eye The stronger eye, usually the aiming eye
Draw To pull or draw the bow string
Draw Force Line A straight line from the bow hand pressure point (on the bow), through the fingers, forearm and elbow of the drawing arm
Draw Length The length of arrow draw by an individual archer 
Draw Reference Point The position of the hand and string relative to the face at full draw. (see Anchor Point)
Draw Weight The force required to pull a bow to full draw length, measured in pounds
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E
End The number of arrows shot before scoring and retrieving, usually 3 or 6 arrows.
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F
Fast Warning shout to stop shooting in an emergency
Field Captain Person controlling the shooting
F.I.T.A. Federation Internationale de Tir a l'Arc, Archery's international governing body. The name is also used for a number of specific shooting Rounds
FITA Star A tournament where archers can gain awards (stars) for specified scores
Fletching The flights fixed to the arrow, usually made from feather or from various types of plastic
Fletching Jig A device use to position fletchings on arrows in the correct positions
Flight Shooting Shooting for the longest distance
Follow Through The movement which take place in the archer and equipment immediately following the loose
Foot Markers  Small discussed to mark archers foot positions on the shooting line
Freestyle Recurve bow, using sight/draw length check/button and stabilisers
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G
GMB Grand Master Bowman, the highest GNAS classification
GNAM Grand National Archery Meeting, premier tournament since 1844
G.N.A.S. Grand National Archery Society, Archery's national governing body
Gonfalon Banner of a club, county or group of archers
Grip The part of the bow held in the bow hand
Group The area covered by an archer's arrows in the target face.
Grouping Having arrows land within an area of the target face.
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H
Hanger Arrow that does not penetrate the boss, but hangs down the face of the target
Heeling The practice of applying bow hand pressure low on the bow grip
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K
Kisser A small disc or device fitted to the string and drawn to the lips as a draw length check
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L
Lady Paramount Traditionally appointed to preside at tournaments and to present awards
Loose The action of releasing the bow string when shooting
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M
MB Master Bowman, second highest GNAS Classification
Mono Filament Single strand or thread, normally used for serving on bow strings
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N
Nock (1) The slot on the fletched end of the arrow used to position the arrow on the bow string
Nock (2) The grooves at the end of the bow limbs into which the string sits
Nocking Point The place on the bow string where the arrow is placed
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O
Over Bowed Term used to indicate the bow weight is too great for the archer 
Overdraw To draw the pile of the arrow beyond the arrow rest
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P
Petticoat The outer edge of the target for which there is no score
Pile The metal point of an arrow
Pinching Gripping the nock of the arrow between the fingers
Pin-Hole The exact centre of the target face, usually marked with a cross
Popinjay Shooting at artificial birds on perches on top of a 90 foot mast
Pressure Button See Button
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R
Release Aid Device used with a compound bow acting as a trigger to release the string
Riser Rigid centre section of a bow to which the limbs are attached
Round Formal standard number of arrows shot at one or more distances in competitions
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S
Serving Thread wound around the bow string at nocking point, end the loops
Serving Tool Device used to apply serving to the bow string
Shooting Line The line which archers stand astride whilst shooting
Sighters Arrows allowed at the start of a shoot to enable sight adjustments
Spin Wings A curved type of plastic fletching
Spine The measure of an arrows flexibility
Stabilisers Rods and weights fitted to a bow to reduce bow movement
Stacking Steep increase in bow draw weight at or near the end of the draw
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T
Tackle Collective word used to describe an archers equipment
Take Down A type of bow which has removable limbs
Target Captain Person in charge of archers on a target, especially when scoring
Target Face Paper or fabric coloured target with scoring areas, fixed to a the front of a boss
Target Stand The support for the boss or target
T.F.C. Torque Flight Compensators, flexible couplings for stabilisers
Tiller (1) Bowyers process to balance forces applied to limbs when the bow is strung
Tiller (2) The difference in the measurements between the sting and the limbs just above and just below the riser
Torque A turning force applied to the bow at full draw
Trajectory The flight path of an arrow
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U
Under-Bowed Term used to indicate the bow weight is too light for the archer
Unit Aiming Maintaining the relative position of the arms, head and shoulders by aiming using movements at the waist
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V
Vane Another name for plastic fletchings
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W
Waiting Line A line behind (usually 5m) the shooting line where archers wait to shoot and retire behind after shooting an end
Wax Used to seal a bow string and bind the strands together
Worst White Award given to the archer whose arrow hits the outermost scoring area of the target
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