A large bow that has a strong tension, and is usually more than 3 feet tall. The most famous longbows in history were the English longbows, which were crafted of yew
a large bow made from a long thin curved piece of wood, used in the past for hunting or fighting. Leading missile weapon of the English from the 14th century into the 16th century. Probably of Welsh origin, it was usually 6 ft (2 m) tall and shot arrows more than a yard long. The best were made of yew, might require a force of 100 lbs (45 kg) to draw, and had an effective range of 200 yards (180 m). English archers used longbows in the Hundred Years' War, and the weapon played an important role in the battles of Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt. See also bow and arrow, crossbow