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Mar 30, 2006

This week's theme
Words related to archery

This week's words
parthian shot
fletcher
bull's-eye
toxophilite
best gold

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toxophilite

noun: One who is fond of or expert at archery.

[Coined by Roger Ascham (1515-1568), scholar and writer, as a proper name and the title of his book Toxophilus, from Greek toxon (bow) + -philos (loving).]

Roger Ascham was the tutor for teenager Elizabeth, future Queen Elizabeth I. His book Toxophilus was the first book on archery in English. It was a treatise on archery but it was also an argument for writing in the vernacular: in English. You could say he shot two birds with one arrow.

"In uncertain times, it makes sense to have as many strings to your bow as a well-provisioned fiddler or a prudent toxophilite."
EK; Bibliophile; The Guardian (London, UK); Apr 17, 2004.

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