crossbow

noun cross·bow \ ˈkrȯs-ˌbō \

|Updated on: 1 Aug 2018

Definition of crossbow

: a weapon for shooting quarrels and stones that consists chiefly of a short bow mounted crosswise near the end of a stock

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Recent Examples of crossbow from the Web

The Double-Dealer, the latest blaster in the Doomlands line, features a cool crossbow-esque design.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "Nerf's New Double-Dealer Doomlands Blaster Lets You Drown Your Foes in Darts," 25 Jan. 2016
In Sun’s bedroom, authorities found a military-style ballistic vest, a crossbow with scope and light, 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a military ski mask, an ammunition clip loader, and a strangulation apparatus called a garrote.

— erin mccarthy, Philly.com, "Foreign exchange student faces new federal charge after Delaware County school shooting threat," 6 June 2018
Investigators watched carefully as obshchak flowed to fund his lifestyle, with everything from cash and cigarettes to bottles of Grey Goose vodka and Johnnie Walker Black Scotch to a high-end crossbow.

— garrett graff, Longreads, "A Vor Never Sleeps," 5 June 2018
District Attorney Rich Bower said Friday that police found a semiautomatic rifle, a shotgun, two machetes, throwing knives, two lever-action rifles, a revolver, a crossbow with arrows and bulk ammunition.

— Washington Post, "Supreme Court stays execution of inmate," 7 Mar. 2018
This shop does not sell florescent orange camouflage vests or mechanized crossbows.

— heather radke, Longreads, "A Beginner’s Guide to Fly Fishing With Your Father," 16 June 2018
Each one is centered around a weapon type: sniper, grenade launcher, and crossbow.

— nick statt, The Verge, "Five new things we learned about The Division 2 today," 11 June 2018
Investigators urge anyone with information about the crossbow attacks to contact Detective Larry Heath at 954-321-4719.

— wayne k. roustan, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Serial crossbow sniper? Deputies link man accused of shooting teen to four other attacks," 7 June 2018
William Rodriguez, 33, was taken into custody and confessed to participating in real-life target practice, sniping passersby from his car with a Cobra-brand tactical pistol crossbow, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

— martin vassolo, miamiherald, "He fired a crossbow at people on the street, cops say. A victim found a bolt in his body," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crossbow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.