Crossbowmen: meaning, definitions and examples
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crossbowmen
[ ˈkrɔsˌboʊ.mən ]
medieval warriors
Crossbowmen are soldiers or archers who use a crossbow, a ranged weapon that features a horizontal bow mounted on a stock. They were particularly prominent in the Middle Ages and played a significant role in military tactics due to their ability to shoot with greater force and accuracy than regular archers.
Synonyms
archer, marksman, sharpshooter.
Examples of usage
- The crossbowmen took their positions on the castle walls.
- During the siege, the crossbowmen proved essential in repelling enemy forces.
- In medieval battles, crossbowmen often targeted armored knights.
- The training of crossbowmen was rigorous to ensure effective use of the weapon.
Translations
Translations of the word "crossbowmen" in other languages:
🇵🇹 arqueiros de besta
🇮🇳 क्रॉस्बोमेन
🇩🇪 Armbrustschützen
🇮🇩 penembak busur silang
🇺🇦 арбалетники
🇵🇱 kusznicy
🇯🇵 クロスボウ射手
🇫🇷 arbalétriers
🇪🇸 ballesteros
🇹🇷 yaylı okçular
🇰🇷 석궁 사격수
🇸🇦 رماة القوس والنشاب
🇨🇿 kuštníci
🇸🇰 kušníci
🇨🇳 弩手
🇸🇮 strelci z balist
🇮🇸 krossbogaskyttur
🇰🇿 құрбандық садақшылар
🇬🇪 ყუმბარების მსროლელები
🇦🇿 tüfəngçilər
🇲🇽 ballesteros
Etymology
The term 'crossbowman' derives from the combination of 'crossbow', which refers to the weapon itself, and 'man', indicating a person who wields this weapon. The crossbow has its roots in ancient China, where it was first invented around the 5th century BC. The technology quickly spread to other cultures, particularly in Europe, during the medieval period. By the 12th century, the crossbow became a common military weapon, favored for its power and ease of use compared to traditional longbows. Crossbowmen were often trained to be particularly lethal at long range, and the presence of crossbowmen on the battlefield changed the dynamics of warfare, allowing armies to attack from a distance and target armored foes effectively. Their role remained significant until the advent of firearms, which eventually replaced the crossbow as the primary ranged weapon in military arsenals.