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

Illustration of crossbow

Examples of crossbow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Early warfare focused on hand-to-hand combat, but in time, the types of weapons advanced to include items like slings, crossbows and swords and with them came the practice of sending messages with their use. —Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025

Kentucky's 2025 deer hunting season includes dates for archery, crossbow, muzzleloader, and modern gun methods. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025

Wednesday thinks she’s outwitted her opponents, but her plan to have Thing ready at the crossbow to take out Isaac-Slurp is thwarted when — dun dun DUNNNN! —Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025

Joss’ shooter, in a June 2024 police report, claimed Joss had driven past his house waving a crossbow and hurling racial slurs. —Ethan Bauer, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for crossbow

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

crossbow

noun

cross·​bow -ˌbō 

: a short bow mounted crosswise near the end of a wooden stock that shoots short arrows