goat's foot
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Alternative forms
Etymology
From its resemblance to a goat's hind-foot.
Noun
goat's foot (plural goat's feet)
- A particular type of mechanism for cocking a crossbow.
- 1978, J. Barto Arnold, Robert S. Weddle, The Nautical Archeology of Padre Island: The Spanish Shipwrecks of 1554:
- A number of halberds, or battle-axes, also was carried. Other ordnance included two goat's feet (crossbow cocking mechanisms) and bombs, grenades, and combustible balls “for fireworks.”
- 1983, Popular Mechanics, page 129:
- Besides being difficult, hand cocking some bows gets the string a little off center. This can reduce accuracy. From ancient times, crossbow cocking devices have helped solve both problems. A modern version of the goat's foot lever does ...
- 2006, William Hovey Smith, Crossbow Hunting, Stackpole Books, →ISBN:
- Two arms of the goat's foot were placed back of the pin, and hooks on the pivot were used to grasp the string.
- 2006, Cathal J. Nolan, The Age of Wars of Religion, 1000-1650: An Encyclopedia of Global Warfare and Civilization, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 201:
- The “Frankish crossbow” used by the Crusaders was more powerful and greatly impressed Muslims who encountered it […] As crossbows became more powerful a “goat's foot lever” or rack-and-pinion device was used to draw them.
- 2011, G. E. M. Thomas, Strong Roads a Spanish Shipwreck Survivor in Ancient Hawaii, G E M Thomas, →ISBN, page 155:
- The goat's foot lever is about the length of my forearm and as wide as the stock. This machine's design is simple. The lever's two tines hook onto the loose string. The string is tightened by pulling the lever towards me.
See also
Further reading
- 2007, Ralph Payne-Gallwey, The Crossbow: Its Military and Sporting History, Construction and Use, Skyhorse Publishing Inc., →ISBN, page 84:
- THIS apparatus for bending crossbows was known as a goat's-foot lever, from its supposed resemblance in outline to a hind-foot of a goat.
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