Bow-hand

[f. BOW sb.¹ + HAND.]

  1.  The hand that holds the bow in archery, i.e., the left hand. Hence, † (wide) on the bow-hand: wide of the mark, ‘out.’

1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., IV. i. 135. Wide a’ th bow hand, yfaith your hand is out.

1596.  Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (1862), 520/2. He shootes wyde on the bow hand, and very far from the marke.

1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XIII. 534. Atrides’ dart of Helenus the thrust out bow-hand struck.

1613.  Beaum. & Fl., Coxcomb, I. iii. I am much o’ the bow-hand else.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, I. 24. You are on the bow-hand still, Smith.

1871.  Browning, Balaust. (1881), 26. Thou must arm The bow-hand.

  2.  The hand that holds the bow of a violin, etc., i.e., the right hand; transf. style of playing.

1668.  Shadwell, Sullen Lov., II. Wks. 1720, I. 43. He has … the most luxurious Bow-hand of any man in Europe.