arrow
- a slender, straight, generally pointed missile or weapon made to be shot from a bow and equipped with feathers at the end of the shaft near the nock, for controlling flight.
- anything resembling an arrow in form, function, or character.
- a linear figure having a wedge-shaped end, as one used on a map or architectural drawing, to indicate direction or placement.
- (initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Sagitta.
- broad arrow.
- to indicate the proper position of (an insertion) by means of an arrow (often followed by in): to arrow in a comment between the paragraphs.
Origin of arrow
Examples from the Web for arrows
Contemporary Examples
Even beyond the slings and arrows aimed at them both in public life, these two women have a lot in common.
When the Arrows and the Blades ended the game in a scoreless tie, the crowd jumped onto the field.
As he rode away, the redheaded wildling filled her lover with three arrows, sparing his life.
Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie on Ygritte and Jon Snow’s Reunion at the Battle of Castle BlackMarlow Stern
June 10, 2014
For every arrow pointing toward a “designer,” there are a thousand arrows pointing the other way.
“I think that my love for arrows, feathers, birds, animals, and just nature in general certainly [does],” she explained.
Historical Examples
A grievous error it is to suppose that Cupid's artillery is limited to bow and arrows.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
I have thirteen arrows yet, and if one of them fly unfleshed, then, by the twang of string!
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
And did they--the Five Chiefs, I mean--have respect for his arrows?
The Trail BookMary Austin
Why don't they defend it on the flank also, even with arrows?
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
I am your friend, your brother; I have no spear and no arrows, but I have this—this!
Green MansionsW. H. Hudson
arrows
- (functioning as singular) British an informal name for darts
arrow
- a long slender pointed weapon, usually having feathers fastened at the end as a balance, that is shot from a bowRelated adjective: sagittal
- any of various things that resemble an arrow in shape, function, or speed, such as a sign indicating direction or position
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for arrows
arrow
n.
early 14c., from Old English arwan, earlier earh "arrow," possibly borrowed from Old Norse ör (genitive örvar), from Proto-Germanic *arkhwo (cf. Gothic arhwanza), from PIE root *arku- "bow and/or arrow," source of Latin arcus (see arc (n.)). The ground sense would be "the thing belonging to the bow," perhaps a superstitious avoidance of the actual name.
A rare word in Old English, where more common words for "arrow" were stræl (cognate with the word still common in Slavic, once prevalent in Germanic, too; meaning related to "flash, streak") and fla, flan, a North Germanic word, perhaps originally with the sense of "splinter." Stræl disappeared by 1200; fla lingered in Scottish until after 1500. Meaning "a mark like an arrow in cartography, etc." is from 1834.