Illustration of crossbow
crossbow
noun
cross·bow ˈkrȯs-ˌbō 
: a weapon for shooting quarrels and stones that consists chiefly of a short bow mounted crosswise near the end of a stock
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web He was arrested with a crossbow on the grounds of Windsor Castle, according to the Crown Protection Service. 
Kyla Guilfoil, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2022 Ned has a crossbow in his hand in this scene, just as in the trailer 2 scene where the trio mocks Otto’s name. Chris Smith, BGR, 22 Nov. 2021 At first there wasn’t much to see — just a hunched, gray form perched on the parapet, Batman-style, or a crossbow silhouette spiraling high above. Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2022 The suspect faces a charge of felony petit theft in relation to the crossbow theft, according to the sheriff’s office and online court records. NBC News, 24 Feb. 2022 Two dads let their frustration boil into fighting (pushing and shoving), and a person is threatened with a crossbow. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 13 May 2022 Last year, a man was sectioned under Britain’s Mental Health Act after he was apprehended on the grounds of Windsor Castle with a crossbow. Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 May 2022 The incident was not the first security breach in Windsor; a man was apprehended last year on the grounds of the castle with a crossbow, police said. Zoe Magee, ABC News, 3 May 2022 According to the statement, a crossbow was recovered following a search of the intruder. Katharina Krebs, CNN, 26 Dec. 2021 See More
Kyla Guilfoil, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2022 Ned has a crossbow in his hand in this scene, just as in the trailer 2 scene where the trio mocks Otto’s name. Chris Smith, BGR, 22 Nov. 2021 At first there wasn’t much to see — just a hunched, gray form perched on the parapet, Batman-style, or a crossbow silhouette spiraling high above. Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2022 The suspect faces a charge of felony petit theft in relation to the crossbow theft, according to the sheriff’s office and online court records. NBC News, 24 Feb. 2022 Two dads let their frustration boil into fighting (pushing and shoving), and a person is threatened with a crossbow. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 13 May 2022 Last year, a man was sectioned under Britain’s Mental Health Act after he was apprehended on the grounds of Windsor Castle with a crossbow. Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 May 2022 The incident was not the first security breach in Windsor; a man was apprehended last year on the grounds of the castle with a crossbow, police said. Zoe Magee, ABC News, 3 May 2022 According to the statement, a crossbow was recovered following a search of the intruder. Katharina Krebs, CNN, 26 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
crossbow
noun
cross·bow ˈkrȯs-ˌbō
: a short strip mounted crosswise near the end of a wooden stock that shoots short arrows