longbow
UK[ˈlɒŋbəʊ]US[ˈlɔːŋboʊ]
n
a large bow used for shooting arrows, especially in medieval times, which is made from a single piece of wood and is roughly the same height as the person who uses it.
Morpheme Breakdown
long
bow
long
length
bow
weapon
Etymology
the word 'longbow' is a transparent compound from old english, directly combining 'lang/long' and 'boga'. the 'long' refers to the weapon's defining physical characteristic—its significant length, typically matching or exceeding the height of the archer. this design, originating in medieval wales and later iconic in english warfare, provided greater power and range compared to shorter bows. the compound name thus logically describes the weapon by its most prominent and functional feature.
Analysis
Structure: long (length) + bow (weapon)
'long' is from old english 'lang, long', meaning 'having considerable linear extent'. 'bow' is from old english 'boga', meaning 'arc, arch, weapon for shooting arrows'.
Examples
the english army's skilled archers were famed for their use of the longbow at the battle of agincourt.
crafting a traditional longbow from a single stave of yew wood requires great skill and patience.
in historical reenactments, he demonstrates how to accurately shoot a longbow.