nock

1 of 2

noun

1
: one of the notches cut in either of two tips of horn fastened on the ends of a bow or in the bow itself for holding the string
2
a
: the part of an arrow having a notch for the bowstring
b
: the notch itself

nock

2 of 2

verb

nocked; nocking; nocks

transitive verb

1
: to make a nock in (a bow or arrow)
2
: to fit (an arrow) against the bowstring

Examples of nock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
When the bow is limber enough to bend over your knee, whittle nocks 1 inch from either end, cutting into the sides only. Keith McCafferty, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023 Whittle a nock at one end of the shaft and a deeper notch at the other end for the point. Keith McCafferty, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023 Use the 11-degree taper for the nock. Andrew Del-Colle, Popular Mechanics, 16 Aug. 2020 Anti-Dry Fire (ADF) and nock sensors increase safety and boost peace of mind. Jace Bauserman, Outdoor Life, 7 Jan. 2021 The Vector-Quad cable technology, which uses four cables rather than two, eliminates cam lean and generates straight nock travel. Jace Bauserman, Outdoor Life, 7 Jan. 2021 The bolt is supported in the bow via a traditional nock and a rest at the front of the bow; there is no contact with a barrel in between, and that’s a recipe for excellent accuracy. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 20 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English nocke notched tip on the end of a bow; akin to Middle Dutch nocke summit

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near nock

Cite this Entry

“Nock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nock. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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