C

Cast:
The ability of a bow to project an arrow.

Centre-shot:
A cutout section above the grip that allows the archer to shoot through the centre of the bow, rather than from one side.

Chest guard:
A protective covering worn on the bow arm side of the chest to prevent the bowstring from catching on clothing.

Chrysal:
A transverse crack in the belly of a wooden bow caused by the crushing of the fibres.

Clicker:
A device attached to a compound bow which gives an audible warning when the required draw length has been reached. The "click" to often used by archers as a signal to release.

Closed Stance:
The position on the shooting line where an imaginary straight line to the target passes through the toes of the rear foot (the one furthest from the target) and behind the toes of the front foot.

Cloth yard arrow:
An arrow of a certain length used for medieval English arrows.

Clout:
A white cloth placed on the ground as a marker for long distance shooting.

Clout shoot:
An archery contest where the aim is to hit a target laid out horizontally on the ground.

Cock feather:
The feather at right angles to the string position in the nock on three feathered arrows.

Composite bow:
A recurve bow made from a number of materials laminated together (eg. wood, sinew and horn).

Compound bow:
A bow that uses a cable system and eccentric wheels/cams mounted at the limb tips, when drawn produces peak weight at mid draw and let off to 50/65% of peak weight at full draw

Compound crossbow:
A crossbow fitted with pulleys dating from the 15th century.

Creep:
Allowing the arrow to edge forward at full draw just before the release of the arrow.

Cresting:
The identifying coloured rings applied to the arrow shaft forward of the fletchings used to mark ownership.

Crossbow:
A projectile weapon consisting of a bow attached at right angles to a shaft. When the string was drawn it was held by a nut. The bolt was loaded and the nut was released by a lever turning the nut thus firing the bolt.