what word describes the longbow which has loing nearly straight limbs that arc when strung bow hunting
The word you’re looking for is “longbow.”
Quick Scoop
In bow hunting and archery terminology, a longbow is specifically defined as a bow with long, nearly straight limbs that form an arc when the bow is strung. Modern hunter-education and state hunting glossaries use this exact wording to describe the longbow, so your description matches the standard definition used in today’s hunting courses and gear guides.
A longbow is considered the traditional bow, with long, nearly straight limbs that form an arc when strung.
So if someone asks, “What word describes the longbow which has long nearly straight limbs that arc when strung?” — the answer is simply: longbow (often called a traditional longbow in bow-hunting circles).
Mini Facts: Longbow vs Other Bows
- Longbow: Long, almost straight limbs; forms a “D”-shaped arc when strung; string does not touch the limbs except at the tips.
- Recurve: Limbs curve toward and then away from the archer; string touches part of the limb; generally shorter and faster than a longbow.
- Compound: Uses cams/pulleys and cables for mechanical advantage; very different profile and not described as having simple straight limbs that just form an arc.
- Crossbow: Bow mounted horizontally on a stock; held at full draw with a lock; again not the simple “straight limbs that arc when strung.”
Here’s a quick reference table:
| Bow type | Limbs description | String contact | Typical hunting use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longbow | [2][6][7]Long, nearly straight; form an arc/D-shape when strung | [1][6][7][2]Touches only at tips | [3][5]Traditional bowhunting, instinctive shooting | [5][2][3]
| Recurve | [8][3][5]Curved limbs that bend toward then away from archer | [9][3][5][8]String rests along part of limbs | [3][5]Traditional hunting, target archery (e.g., Olympics) | [5][8][3]
| Compound | [10][8][3]Short, highly engineered limbs with cams/pulleys | [8][10][3]Complex cable system | [10][3][8]Modern bowhunting with sights and releases | [3][8]
| Crossbow | [8][10][3]Bow mounted horizontally on a stock | [10][8]String held by lock mechanism | [8]Hunting using bolt/quarrel projectiles | [10][8]
Forum-Style Note & SEO Context
In many online hunting forums and Q&A threads (including study guides and state hunter-education materials), when someone asks:
“Which type of bow has straight limbs that form an arc when strung?”
The accepted answer is “longbow.”
For search/SEO purposes around bow hunting topics, your key phrase:
- “what word describes the longbow which has long nearly straight limbs that arc when strung bow hunting”
maps directly onto common glossary definitions of the longbow used in hunter safety courses and traditional archery guides published over the last few years.
TL;DR
The specific archery term for a bow with long, nearly straight limbs that form an arc when strung is “longbow” (often called a traditional longbow in bow hunting).
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.