Obs. Also 6–7 burbolt, 7 birdboult. [f. BIRD sb. + BOLT.] A kind of blunt-headed arrow used for shooting birds.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 50. Brydbolt or burdebolt, epitilium.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D. (1869), 43. Mery. He hath in his head. Custance. As much braine as a burbolt.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., I. v. 100. To take those things for Bird-bolts, that you deeme Cannon bullets.
1659. in Burton, Diary (1828), III. 541. You can never make a bird-bolt of a pig’s tail.
1865. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., viii. 209. The wooden headed bird-bolts of the Middle Ages.
b. attrib., as in birdbolt-shot.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 1887/1. Only one, which was a byrdbolt shot off.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 249. Some Bird-bolt shot, or more, from the River of Seane.
