Bracer

Bracer

A bracer (or arm-guard) is a strap or sheath, commonly made of leather, stone, or plastic that covers the inside of an archer's arm to protect it while shooting. Bracers keep the inside of the archer's forearm from getting hurt by the string of the bow or the fletching of the arrow; they also prevent loose clothing from catching the bow string. They normally cover the forearm only, but chest-guards are sometimes worn, usually by female archers, and other areas have at times been protected. With some combinations of non-baggy clothing and bows with a larger distance between the bow and the string, the archer may not need to wear any bracer. [Toxophilus - the School of Shooting. by Roger Ascham. Read Books 2006. ISBN-10: 1846643694 ISBN-13: 978-1846643699]

Stone wrist-guards from the European Bronze Age have been thought to be archery bracers, but a recent suggestion is that they were status symbols without practical function. [Early Bronze Age Stone Wrist-Guards in Britain: Archer's bracer or social symbol? Smith J 2006, Archaeology Chaos. http://www.geocities.com/archchaos1/article1/1.htm ] The two functions may be combined. The Navajo people have developed their "ketoh" bracers, using silver, turquoise, and other adornments. Ketoh decorations usually have a center motif, sometimes with a central ornament, and four curvilinear shapes that radiate toward the corners. Ketohs may have a smooth leather surface on the inside of the arm and are thus still perfectly functional, but are normally used as items of personal and ritual adornment, or as works of art in their own right. [ [http://www.millicentrogers.org/ketoh.htm ketoh] KETOH. Navajo. Silver and Leather. Millicent Rogers Museum of Northern New Mexico Collection. Accessed 25th February 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.labelle.org/Argear_Bracer.html Archer's Gear: The bracer] – from La Belle Compagnie


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  • Bracer — Bra cer, n. 1. That which braces, binds, or makes firm; a band or bandage. [1913 Webster] 2. A covering to protect the arm of the bowman from the vibration of the string; also, a brassart. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 3. A medicine, as an astringent… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bracer — (n.) early 14c., piece of armor protecting the arm; 1580s, a clamp, bind, brace, from BRACE (Cf. brace) (n.). Figurative sense of that which braces the nerves is 1740; especially of alcoholic drinks from c.1850. Related: Bracers …   Etymology dictionary

  • bracer — bracer1 [brā′sər] n. [ME < OFr brasseure < bras, arm < L brachium: see BRACE1] Archery a leather guard worn on the arm holding the bow, for protection against the bowstring bracer2 [brā′sər] n. 1. a person or thing that braces ☆ 2. Slang …   English World dictionary

  • bracer — I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French *bracer, from braz arm, from Latin bracchium Date: 14th century an arm or wrist protector especially for use by an archer II. noun Date: 1579 1. one that braces, binds, or makes firm 2. a drink …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bracer — noun a) That which braces, binds, or makes firm; a band or bandage. To prevent the bow string from hanging on the left arm, it is covered with a piece of smooth leather, fastened on the outside of the arm, this is called a bracer. b) A covering… …   Wiktionary

  • bracer — bracer1 /bray seuhr/, n. 1. a person or thing that braces, binds, or makes firm. 2. Informal. a stimulating drink, esp. one of liquor. [1570 80; BRACE + ER1] bracer2 /bray seuhr/, n. Archery. a guard or band worn over the wrist of the bow hand to …   Universalium

  • Bracer — The piece of armour protection for the upper and lower parts of the knight s arms. The word carries the sense of two, as in a brace of pheasant. Cf. Vambrace1 …   Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases

  • Bracer — This interesting name, with variant spellings Brasher, Brashier, Bra(i)zier and Brazer, derives from the Old English pre 7th Century Broesian or Brasian meaning to cast in brass and was originally given as an occupational name to a worker in… …   Surnames reference

  • bracer — Synonyms and related words: advocate, alpenstock, analeptic, arm, athletic supporter, back, backbone, backing, bandeau, bearer, bra, brace, bracing, bracket, brassiere, buttress, cane, carrier, cervix, cordial, corset, crook, crutch, enlivenment …   Moby Thesaurus

  • bracer — bra|cer Mot Agut Nom masculí …   Diccionari Català-Català

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