Broad arrow

noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    a metal arrowhead, comprising a tang and two barbs meeting at a point; used traditionally in heraldry, and later by the British government to mark government property and convict uniforms.

    "Their boats were manned by convicts, dressed in prison clothing, freely decorated with numbers and emblazoned all over with the ominous broad arrow."

  2. 2
    an arrow with a wide barbed head wordnet
  3. 3
    An arrow fitted with this arrowhead. historical

    "It was his ill fate, to be a ſleepe, as old Abbas was going a hunting within the path, the King ſaw him not, but his pamperd horſe ſlartled at him, whereat immediatly the King ſent a broad Arrow into the poore mans heart, and ere all his followers had paſt, the man was kild a hundred times ouer, if ſo many Arrowes could haue forfeited ſo many liues, in imitating the King, as if the deed were good and commendable."

  4. 4
    a mark shaped like an arrowhead; used to mark convicts' clothing wordnet
  5. 5
    an arrowhead mark identifying British government property wordnet

Etymology

From Middle English brodarwe, brode arewe, brood arowe.

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