A type of projectile weapon, it is a pointed shaft that is designed to be launched from a bow.

NOTE: The weapon system is often referred to collectively as "bow and arrows", but they are still tagged separately with bow_(weapon) and arrow.

Details about the design of a bow and arrow system:

• An arrow generally consists of an arm length shaft, with a pointed blade on one end and stabilizing fins on the other. The shaft is traditionally made of wood, although modern arrows are often made of aluminum or resin composites.

• The tip of an arrow is referred to as the "arrowhead", and comes in a wide variety of designs. Most modern arrowheads are made of metal, although historically they were made from worked flint.

• The stabilizing fins are traditionally made of feathers inset into the shaft, and called the "fletching". Modern arrows may be fletched with plastic or metal fins in place of feathers.

See also:

• arrowed: When someone or something has an arrow jutting out of it.
• quiver - the container for holding arrows, often worn
• bow_(weapon) - the thing that can launch arrows
• ranged_weapon
• weapon

• directional_arrow - the arrow symbol usually for pointing in a direction