n.
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 .