Bowstring

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈboʊ.stɹɪŋ/

Definitions

1. A strong thread that joins the extremities of an archery bow to enable the launching of arrows
2. A tensile material designed to connect the ends of a bow, facilitating arrow propulsion
3. A sturdy cord stretched between the two ends of a bow to propel arrows when released

Etymology: Bowstring is about as transparent as English compounds get: it is simply "bow" joined to "string." The first half traces back through Old English "būgan" and a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to bend," which fits the weapon's whole job, since a bow is a curved stick that stores energy only while it is bent. The second half, "string," is a much older and more general word for a thin cord, so the compound names the cord that bends the wood. The shape of the thing explains the word more than any sound change does. A bow is useless without its string, and the string is what holds the limb under tension, which is why the two parts were naturally fused into a single noun. English speakers did not need a special term for the cord as distinct from the bow, only a way to say "the string belonging to the bow," and compounding was the ordinary tool for that.

Synonyms: string, cord