A bowstring is the strong cord stretched tightly between the two ends of a bow, the weapon used to shoot arrows. When an archer pulls back the bowstring with an arrow resting against it, the string stores energy like a coiled spring. Release the string, and it snaps forward, launching the arrow through the air at high speed.

For thousands of years, people made bowstrings from materials like animal sinew, twisted plant fibers, or silk. A good bowstring had to be incredibly strong yet flexible enough to be pulled back repeatedly without breaking. Modern bowstrings are often made from synthetic materials that are even stronger and more reliable.

The tension in a bowstring helps determine how powerful the bow is. A tighter, harder-to-pull bowstring shoots arrows farther and faster, which is why experienced archers can use bows that would be too difficult for beginners to draw. You might hear someone say they're wound as tight as a bowstring when they're very tense or nervous, capturing that feeling of stored energy ready to release.