Glossary of archery terms
A reference compendium defining archery equipment, practice, and organizations.
A glossary of archery terms is a reference compendium that defines the vocabulary used in the practice of archery, including equipment, techniques, and organizations. It serves as a guide for both newcomers and experienced practitioners to understand the specialized language of the sport.
- Organizations
- AMO (Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization, now ATA), ASA (Archery Shooters Association), ATA (Archery Trade Association), CAA (Camp Archery Association)
- Disciplines
- 3D Archery, field archery, clout archery, bowhunting, barebow, bowhunter class
- Equipment types
- bow (composite, compound, recurve, longbow, crossbow), arrow, arrowhead, arm guard, arrow rest, release aid, stabilizer, sight, peep sight, clicker, D-loop, finger tab, broadhead, bodkin point, bolt,
- Measures
- AMO length, A.T.A. (axle-to-axle), brace height, draw length, draw weight, fistmele
Lore & Background
The glossary covers terms from ancient to modern archery, including the arbalest, a late variation of the crossbow that came into use in Europe during the 12th century, and the English longbow, a powerful medieval bow also known as the Welsh longbow. Japanese archery is represented by the daikyu, a Japanese longbow. The glossary also documents the archer's paradox, the effect produced by an arrow flexing as it leaves the bow, and the practice of dry loosing, which refers to loosing the string without an arrow and potentially damaging the bow.
Reader's Guide
The glossary's significance lies in its comprehensive coverage of both historical and contemporary archery terms, from the bodkin point arrowhead to modern compound bow components like cams and cable-driven rests. It documents the evolution of archery organizations, including the Archery Manufacturers and Merchants Organization (now the Archery Trade Association) and the Archery Shooters Association, which sanctions 3D archery competitions. The glossary also clarifies distinctions between disciplines such as barebow, where accessories are severely limited, and bowhunter class, which requires equipment similar to that used in hunting. Its legacy is as a foundational reference for understanding the sport's terminology, from the anchor point on an archer's face to the back wall of a compound bow's draw cycle.
Did You Know?
- The archer's paradox describes the effect of an arrow flexing as it leaves the bow.
- A Berger hole is a threaded hole on the riser of a compound bow for attaching an arrow rest.
- Clout archery involves shooting arrows toward a flag from a relatively long distance.
- A bow square is a specialized T-square used to set nocking points and brace height.
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