† bowstaff Obs.
Pl. bowstaves.
[f. bow n.1 4.]
A stick to be made into a bow.
| [1394 in Hakluyt Voy. I. 167 In the yeere of our Lord 1394..werke, wax, osmunds, and bowstaues, to the value of 1060 nobles.] 1436 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 171 Osmonde, coppre, bow-staffes, stile, and wex. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, xiv, For euery xxiiii. bundelles of bowstaues xxvis. viiid. 1641 Termes de la Ley 172 Garble is to sort and chuse the good from the bad as the Garbling of Bowstaves. 1720 Stow's Surv. (ed. Strype 1754) II. v. xiii. 304/2 Bow Staves and arrows at low prices. |