Timeline for Word or phrase for "shooting an arrow with a bow"
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
9 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2018 at 15:35 | comment | added | BoldBen | @aslum That's acceptable, the principle of airsoft is that it is emulation of conflict with firearms. In that context firing is reasonable, and I'm admitting to being a bit pedantic with respect to firearm-like weapons. The usage that gets under my skin is talking about "firing" arrows from bows and stones from catapults which have no connection with firearms at all. | |
| Aug 9, 2018 at 13:37 | comment | added | aslum | So counter example... Dry-fire an airsoft is when you fire it without ammo... You don't Dry-shoot an airsoft gun. | |
| Aug 8, 2018 at 23:32 | comment | added | BoldBen | @aslum You don't "air" an airgun, you don't "elastic" a catapult, you shoot them, just as you do a bow. You can also shoot (or more commonly shoot with) a firearm but, in the specific case of a firearm or large gun where the projectile is propelled by explosive you can also "fire" it. My point is that shoot is the general term for the use of all projectile weapons which use stored energy to propel the projectile and that fire is an alternative verb relating only to those weapons which use fire of some sort as the propellant force. | |
| Aug 6, 2018 at 12:57 | comment | added | aslum | But you don't "air" and Airsoft or paintball gun... You fire it, but there's no fire invovled. That's like saying using a microwave isn't cooking or using skype on your phone isn't calling someone. | |
| Aug 6, 2018 at 8:42 | comment | added | BoldBen | @aslum Possibly not, although those weapons all use heat as to cause damage to the target. Arrows, air rifle pellets, bb gun balls, paint balls and stones from catapults and slings use kinetic energy to do the damage and that kinetic energy is provided without using fire or explosives. | |
| Aug 4, 2018 at 20:15 | comment | added | aslum | Also then you couldn't fire a laser pistol or atomic rifle or death Ray either. | |
| Aug 3, 2018 at 23:35 | comment | added | BoldBen | @aslum I suppose you could, but only by accepting that "to fire" has become an exact synonym of "to shoot". This would be to accept the removal of a valuable distinction between the verbs. I, personally, claim that it is impossible to "fire" an air rifle since no fire is involved, although I will admit that that is, possibly, a bit over-pedantic. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 18:46 | comment | added | aslum | One could argue that since "firing an arrow" is often heard it is indeed correct. | |
| Aug 2, 2018 at 13:42 | history | answered | BoldBen | CC BY-SA 4.0 |