chu-ko-nu

English

A chu-ko-nu.

Etymology

From Mandarin 諸葛弩／诸葛弩 (Zhūgě nǔ, literally “Zhuge crossbow”) via Wade–Giles.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌtʃuːkəʊˈnuː/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

chu-ko-nu (plural chu-ko-nus)

1. An early Chinese repeating crossbow.
   • 2007, C. E. Grayson, M. French, M. J. O'Brien, Traditional Archery from Six Continents, University of Missouri Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 24:

     The chu-ko-nu, equipped with a magazine to hold bolts or, as in this case, pellets, was used in China well into the twentieth century (Needham et al. 1994: 157-64; Selby 2003: 62-63).

   • 2013, John O'Bryan, A History of Weapons, Chronicle Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 84:

     While traditional bows were all about placing carefully selected shots, the chu-ko-nu could rattle off about one shot every two seconds, raining down a shitstorm of indiscriminate crossbow fire that would scare the Fu Manchu right off the enemy.

   • 2016, Felix Long, To Conquer Heaven, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 364:

     Ejecting and replacing the magazine from her chu–ko–nu, she grimly fastened the ribbon holding the gruesome trophy to her belt.

See also

• arbalest