longbow

noun

long·​bow ˈlȯŋ-ˌbō How to pronounce longbow (audio)
: a hand-drawn wooden bow held vertically and used especially by medieval English archers

Examples of longbow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It is thought that the yew was used to create longbows for his royal archers in the lead-up to the Battle of Bannockburn. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 June 2023 Bows and Arrows Archer with medieval English longbow and arrows. — Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 7 Dec. 2023 On Bob’s 12th birthday, his parents gave him his first real bow, a Ben Pearson lemonwood longbow. — David Howard, Popular Mechanics, 11 Aug. 2021 Eager to seek revenge for his loss at Stirling, Edward equipped his soldiers with longbows, which enabled them to rain down arrows on the enemy from afar. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024 The Iceman’s survival gear included a longbow of yew, a quiver of arrows, a copper ax and a kind of crude first-aid kit full of plants with powerful pharmacological properties. — New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 During the Hundred Years’ War, the invention of the English longbow gave England an advantage over France. — Jacquelyn Schneider, Foreign Affairs, 3 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of longbow was in the 14th century

Rhymes for longbow

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Browse Nearby Words

long bone
longbow
long bowls
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Cite this Entry

“Longbow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/longbow. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

longbow

noun
long·​bow ˈlȯŋ-ˌbō How to pronounce longbow (audio)
: a wooden bow drawn by hand

More from Merriam-Webster on longbow

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about longbow

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