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

On cue, a Frey leaps out and stabs Robb’s pregnant wife Talisa (Oona Chaplin) in the stomach, and a volley of crossbow arrows lay into Robb and his friends. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026

Curtis Fryer Mesa County Curtis Fryer, 47, was arrested is accused of firing the crossbow at the victim on Tuesday night in the 400 block of Cougar Run Court. — Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 20 June 2026

In ten episodes of this comedy series, viewers will learn how to make a vibrator out of a toothbrush and a crossbow out of a coat hanger alongside young first-time convict David Broulík. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026

In Britain, a man who had recently watched about ten of Tate’s videos raped his ex-girlfriend and murdered her, her mother, and her sister using a crossbow. — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

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