1. plural of crossbow; medieval weapons consisting of a bow fixed crosswise on a wooden stock, used to shoot bolts or quarrels

Examples

• The medieval soldiers carried crossbows into battle.
• Crossbows were more accurate than regular bows but took longer to reload.
• The museum displayed several ancient crossbows from different periods.
• Modern crossbows are popular for hunting in some states.
• The castle’s defenders used crossbows to shoot from the walls.
• Crossbows require less training than traditional longbows.