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Traditional Archery Dictionary
A guide to some of the
most common terms used in traditional archery.
Accent stripes: thin colored laminations that run through the riser
section (handle area) of the bow.
Armguard: put on forearm to protect it while shooting a bow
Arrow plate: piece of material put on the side of the sight window to
protect it when the arrow is shot
Arrow shaft: main body of the arrow which can be made from a variety of
materials
Arrow shelf: the cut out area of bow directly above the grip section
where arrow is placed to be "shot off the shelf"
Back of bow: the surface of the bow pointing to the target, away from
you when you hold the bow
Back quiver: tube shaped quiver worn on ones back
Bare shaft: an arrow shaft without anything attached; also to describe
an arrow without fletching
Barreled shaft: shaft that is tapered smaller on each end than the
center section of the shaft
Belly of bow: side closest to you when you hold the bow
Blunts: blunt ended arrow points that are made from various materials;
used for small game and practice shooting
Bow glass: fiberglass laminations put on the back and belly of a
laminated bow, can be either clear (see thru) or colored
Bow quiver: a quiver that is attached to the bow's riser or limbs
Bow square: tool used to determine where to place string nock, also can
be used to measure brace height and tiller
Bow string: string that goes from bow nock to bow nock
Bow stringer: a tool used to safely string the bow
Brace: to stringing of a bow
Brace height: distance generally measured from the bowstring to the
deepest part of the grip or some specific point of reference on the bow
Broadhead: an arrow point that has two or more wide blades; used for
hunting
Cast: the distance a bow an propel an arrow
Cat quiver: unique back quiver that keeps arrows separated so as to be
quiet
Center shot: when the bow's sight window is cut to the imaginary
centerline that runs down the belly of the bow
Cock feather: odd colored feather, on an arrow which has three feathers
Crest: bands of paint used as decoration and identification on an arrow
Crester: a lathe used to spin the arrow shaft so that cresting can be
applied
Cresting brush: brush used to apply cresting paint to arrow shaft
Crown dip: also known as a cap dip it is color (paint or stain) that is
applied to the back 8-12" (nock end) of the arrow
Cut off center: a bow that has a sight window that is not cut to the
centerline of the belly of bow; "the bow is an 1/8" off center"
Cut past center: a bow that has it's sight window cut a certain amount
past the imaginary centerline of the bow's belly
Dacron: a specific type material used to make bowstring
Deflex: section of the limb and/or riser that bends toward the bowstring
Draw length: distance a person draws a bow, generally measured from the
string to the back of the fully drawn bow
Draw weight: actual amount of weight taken to pull a bow a certain
distance. The industry standard is to label bow weights measured at 28";
(50lbs @ 28")
elevated rest: arrow rest that is attached to the sight window to
"elevate" the arrow above the shelf
Endless loop: simple bowstring with a loop on both ends
Fadeouts: the very ends of the riser where the riser "fades out" into the
limbs
Fast flight: relatively new lightweight material that has little stretch
and is very strong
Feather, full length a tall uncut feather usually with a flat gluing
surface on one edge that can be used for making a flu flu arrows or be cut or
burned to a particular shape
Feather, die cut: a feather that has been cut to a particular shape such
a parabolic or shield
Field points: long nosed, pointed arrow head of a weight similar the
hunting head which will be used later ; often made from steel used for target
practice and small game
Finger pinch: describes having your finger pinched against the arrow nock
by the bow string
Fistmele: see brace height
Flat bow: a longbow that is short and has a wide limb design
Flemished string: short for Flemish twist string, it consist of two or
more separate bundles of string hand twisted together
Fletching: material used to stabilize an arrow in flight generally made
either from natural feathers or plastic
Fletching clamp: clamp that fletching is put into, then clamp is put into
fletching jig to apply feather to shaft
Fletching jig: tool used to apply fletching to arrow shaft
Flipper rest: simple elevated rest attached the sight window
Flu flu: arrow with big feathers to limit the distance in which it flies:
commonly used to shoot such things as birds
Grain weight: refers to the actual weight of an arrow or arrow point in
terms of grains; there are 437.5 grains in one ounce (125 grain broadhead)
Grip: section of the bow riser where you place your hand to shoot the bow
Hand shock the felt vibration produced by a bow after it has been shot
Hen feather: two feathers of the same color on an arrow which has three
feathers
Hip quiver: quiver attached to a belt and worn on the hip; usually keeps
arrows divided so as to be quiet
Lamination taper: amount of taper from the butt to the tip of the limb
lamination ( example: lamination taper is .003 per inch)
Laminations: thin strips of material that run the length of a laminated
bow, both in the limb and riser section
Limb core: laminations sandwiched between the two layers of bow glass;
makes up the "core" of the limbs
Limb taper: amount that the limb width tapers from the fade outs to the
tips (example: limb tapers from 1 3/4" to 3/4")
Limb tips: end of the limbs where the string groves are
limb wedges: wedge shaped piece between the limb laminations at the base
of the limbs this term is generally used in reference to a take down bow's limbs
Limbs: section of the bow that starts at the fadeouts and goes to the end
of the bow
Longbow: a bow that's string does not touch the belly of the limbs when
the bow is strung
Nock, arrow: plastic part glued to back of arrow or grooved end of the
arrow that accepts the bowstring
Nock, bow: a term sometimes used to describe the string groves on each
end of the bow
Nock, self: grove that is manually cut in the back of primitive arrows to
accept the bowstring
Nock, string: various material put on bow string to permanently mark the
nocking point
Nocking pliers: used to put on brass string nocks
Nocking point: exact spot on bowstring where the arrow is placed before
being shot
Off the shelf: the act of shooting the arrow from a position directly in
contact with the arrow shelf
Over-bowed: term used to describe someone using a bow which is too heavy
a draw weight and which they cannot physically control
Overlays: laminations used in the grip and limb tip areas to beautify and
strengthen those areas
Parabolic cut: feather that has a round back
Parallel shaft: shaft that is the same diameter from one end of the shaft
to the other
Pocket quiver: small pouch worn inside the back pant's pocket where a few
arrows may be carried
Quiver: device that holds arrows
Recurve bow: has limb tips that bend away from the string and the string
touches the belly of the limbs when strung
Reflex: section of the limb and/or riser that bends away from the
bowstring
Release: the act of releasing the bowstring when shooting
Riser: middle section of bow that includes the grip, shelf, sight window
and can include misc. screw-in inserts
Self bow: bow that is made from wood and has no glass backing
Serving: material applied to the middle of the bow string, also applied
in the loops of an "endless loop" string
Serving jig: small tool used to apply serving to bowstring
Shield cut: feather that has a more or less square back
Shooting glove: glove used to protect finger s while shooting
Sight widow: the cut out area of the bow directly above the arrow shelf
Spine: describes the stiffness of an arrow shaft
Spine tester: tool used to measure the spine (flex) of an arrow shaft
Spine weight: refers to the spine in terms of poundage or a range of
poundage (50#-55# spine)
String grove: groves at the end of the bow limbs: where the bow string is
held in place
Tab: small piece of material put on the end of fingers to protect them
while shooting
Take down bow: bow that can be taken apart for ease of transportation,
bows typically consist of either 2 or 3 pieces
tapered shaft: shaft which has the back 10-12" tapered down to a smaller
diameter typically from 23/64" to 5/16"
Throat of grip: deepest spot of the grip
Tiller: the amount that one limb is weakened compared to the other limb
in order for the two limbs to be in time
Tip wedge: wedge shaped piece put between limb lamination in the tip area
Tube quiver: round "tube" shaped quiver worn on the hip
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