stone-bow
(ˈstəʊnbəʊ)
[Cf. MHG. steinboge = sense 2, ON. steinboge = sense 1.]
1. [bow n.1 3.] An arch of stone. Obs. exc. as the name of one of the gates of Lincoln.
| Beowulf 2545 Ᵹeseah ða be wealle Stondan stanboᵹan. |
† 2. [bow n.1 4.] A kind of cross-bow or catapult used for shooting stones. Obs.
| 1419 Liber Albus (Rolls) I. 278 Quod nullus portet arcum vocatum ‘Stonebowe’. 1543 Acts Privy Council (1890) I. 104 Breaking wyth stonebowes off certeyne wyndowes. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. ii. v. 51. 1611 Beaum. & Fl. King & No K. v. i, Children will shortly take him for a Wall And set their Stone-bows in his forehead. 1660 Act 12 Chas. II c. 4 Sched. s.v., Bowes, vocat. stone-bowes of steel, the piece, x. s. |