Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bowstring

/ˈboʊ.stɹɪŋ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.97 in modern English

Syllables: bow-string
IPA: /ˈboʊ.stɹɪŋ/

15

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The string of an archer's bow.

noun

The string of an archer's bow, as used by the Turks for strangling offenders.

verb

To strangle with a bowstring.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"For an instant he glanced along the polished shaft, drawing the bowstring far back, that the arrow might pierce through the heart for which it was aimed."
"When the day broke […] it was high time for her to get up and be bowstrung—a thing very little more pleasant than hanging, only a trifle more genteel."
"1909, O. Henry (William Sydney Porter), A Municipal Report I have seen (on one of my imaginary tours) the Sultan of Turkey bowstring with his own hands one of his wives who had uncovered her face in public."

Etymology

From bow + string.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈboʊ.stɹɪŋ/
British English: /ˈbəʊ.stɹɪŋ/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

bowstrings (plural) bowstrings (present, singular) bowstringing (participle, present) bowstrung (participle, past) bowstrung (past) bowstringed (participle, past) bowstringed (past)

Phrases

bowstring bridge bowstring girder bowstring hemp bowstring knot viper's bowstring hemp

Questions

How do you pronounce bowstring?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈboʊ.stɹɪŋ/.
What does bowstring mean?: The string of an archer's bow.
Where does bowstring come from?: From bow + string.

How to pronounce bowstring

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “bowstring”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈboʊ.stɹɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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