bird-bolt

“And fare thee well, thou hoarse old raven,” answered the page; “thy solemn flight, sable hue, and deep croak, are no charms against bird-bolt or hail-shot, and that thou mayst find — it is open war betwixt us, each for the cause of our mistress, and God show the right!”

The Abbot 2008

Proceed, sweet Cupid: thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the left pap.

Love’s Labour ’s Lost 2004

He set up his bills here in Messina and challenged Cupid at the flight; and my uncle’s fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.

Act I. Scene I. Much Ado about Nothing 1914

Proceed, sweet Cupid: thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the left pap.

Act IV. Scene III. Love’s Labour’s Lost 1914

_ Is _barbed_ of its head, and _flighted_ of its feathers; a bundle of arrows is a _sheaf_; with a blunt head, it is a _bird-bolt_.

The Handbook to English Heraldry Charles Boutell 1844

On perceiving a fly sitting, he suddenly darts out something from his mouth, perhaps his tongue, very loathsome to behold, and almost like a bird-bolt, with which he catches and eats the flies with such speed, even in the twinkling of an eye, that one can hardly discern the action.

A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 08 Robert Kerr 1784

To _challenge at the bird-bolt, _ seems to mean the same as to challenge at children's archery, with snail arrows such as are discharged at birds.

Notes to Shakespeare — Volume 01: Comedies Samuel Johnson 1746

Cupid at the flight; and my uncle's fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.

Much Ado About Nothing 1598

Proceed, sweet Cupid: thou hast thumped him with thy bird-bolt under the left pap.

Love's Labour's Lost 1594

Cupid at the flight; and my uncle’s fool, reading the challenge, subscribed for Cupid, and challenged him at the bird-bolt.

Much Ado About Nothing 2004