Glossary of Traditional Terms
Glossary of terms commonly used throughout this section and archery in general.

Actionwood 
A limb core material made form laminated hard rock maple, where the laminations run perpendicular to the limb face and back.

Alignment
The position of the bowstring relative to the centre line of both limbs. When the limbs are aligned the bowstring follows the center line of both limbs.

Anchor
The point at which the archers bow hand comes to rest when the arrow is fully drawn.

Armguard
A leather or plastic pad to protect the arm from the slap of the bowstring.

Arrow-Shelf
The ledge at the base of the sight window where the arrow rests.

Back
The front, or outer surface of the bow; the surface facing the target.

Backing
The reinforcing material bonded to the front surface of the bow; this is usually fibreglass on modern laminated bows.

Backset
A longbow design where unbraced limbs angle backward, away from the shooter.

Belly
The side of the bow facing the archer.

Billet
A short piece of wood that will be used to make a bow limb, or half of a bow spliced at the handle.

Bow Form
A wooden or metal form used to press laminated bow composites into a specific shape.

Bow Length
The length of a bow, commonly measured from nock to nock along the back of the bow.

Bow Stringer
A device which aids the archer in stringing and unstringing his bow.
Also See: Recurve Bows

Bow Weight
The number of pounds of energy required to pull a 28-inch arrow in a given bow.

Bowyer
One who makes bows.

Brace
A strung bow is braced. To brace a bow is to string it.

Brace Height
The distance between the braced bowstring and the low point of the belly of the grip.

Broadhead
A sharpened steel arrow point with one or more blades used in bowhunting.
Also See: Arrow Making FAQ

Brushbuttons
A rubber button placed on the bowstring where the string touches the belly of the bow, to prevent brush from getting caught between the bowstring and the limb. They are used only on recurves.

Cast
A bows cast is its capacity to propel an arrow; the better the cast the faster the arrow and the flatter its trajectory.

Centre-Shot
The cut out section in the bows upper limb just above the grip. In a full centre-shot bow, the drawn arrow points straight ahead, instead of being angled to one side.

Core Thickness
The thickness of a laminated limbs core materials measured at the butt end.

Cresting
The painted bands on the arrow shaft, just forward of the fletching.

Crown Dipping
The dipping application of paint on the feathered end of an arrow shaft.

Crowned
The peaked or rounded profile of an arrow shelf designed to enhance arrow flight.

Deflex
A deflex bows limbs, at the fadeouts, angle toward the shooter.

Deflex/Reflex
A design where the unbraced limbs deflex forward toward the shooter then reverse attitude, reflexing backward away from the shooter.

Draw Weight
The same as bow weight.

Face
Same as the belly

Fadeout
The tapered feathered end of the riser enveloped by the limb composites.

Fistmele
An ancient term for brace height.

Fletching
The feathers or plastic vanes on an arrow.

Handle
Same as riser.

Laminations
The layers of laminated bow limb. Usually consist of wood and fibreglass.

Limb Length, Working
The measurement from the end of the fadeout to the string nock along the back.

Nock
The grooved portion on the arrows rear end; to nock an arrow is to place it on the bowstring. Also, on the bow, the grooves on both ends, into which the bowstring loops are placed.
Also See: Arrow Making FAQ