broad arrow

American  

noun

1. a mark in the shape of a broad arrowhead, placed upon British government property.

2. Archery. an arrow having an expanded head.

3. Heraldry. pheon.

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broad arrow British  

noun

1. a mark shaped like a broad arrowhead designating British government property and formerly used on prison clothing

2. an arrow with a broad head

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Etymology

Origin of broad arrow

1350–1400; Middle English brod arwe

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

broad arrow

Social significance marks some of the sculptures: one has the broad arrow of the British "Ban the Bomb" movement.

From Time Magazine Archive

All the articles supplied from the royal magazines, and marked with the broad arrow.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Sir Edward Belcher

For on it were cut the British Government broad arrow and the Roman numeral V., which showed that the cartridge was similar to those issued to the Waffs on leaving camp at Kilwa.

From Wilmshurst of the Frontier Force by Ernest Prater

Then Sir Launcelot told the King and the Queen how the lady huntress shot him in the forest of Windsor in the thigh with a broad arrow.

From Stories of King Arthur and His Knights Retold from Malory's "Morte dArthur" by U. Waldo Cutler

Not content simply to follow the line of least resistance, he exhibited from the first a spirit and a philosophy unique indeed beneath the broad arrow.

From Stingaree by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung