steel-bow

Updated: November 10, 2025

This species of tenants still subsists in some parts of Scotland. They are called steel-bow tenants. Those ancient English tenants, who are said by Chief-Baron Gilbert and Dr Blackstone to have been rather bailiffs of the landlord than farmers, properly so called, were probably of the same kind.

Adam Smith - An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

We may here add that the Cross-bow was also called a Steel-bow, because the horns were usually made with steel; and others were called Stone-bows because they were modified to the purpose of discharging stones.

Various - The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction : Volume 19, No. 538, March 17, 1832