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mary6

6th May 2014, 19:31
13d Anticipate supporting English archer (8)
Is this FORETELL?
If it is, I assume the Tell refers to William Tell, who was a crossbow user and therefore not an 'archer'?
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andyc

6th May 2014, 19:46
Tell is shown under archer in the Chambers Crossword Dictionary so it looks as though you are correct.
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rusty

6th May 2014, 20:01
Surely a bowman and an archer are the same thing?
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mary6

6th May 2014, 20:48
Well, rusty, this has been quite a source of conflict within the household. According to the OH who reckons he knows about such things, a crossbow user is most definitely not an archer. And my old OED defines an archer as one who shoots with a bow and arrows. Crossbows use bolts. So is this poetic licence or a bad clue - I'm not the best judge.
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rusty

6th May 2014, 21:02
Well, Mary, I hope I dont cause disharmony in your household, but Chambers Dictionary has a definition of "bolt" as, " an arrow,especially one used in a crossbow."
It also has "bolt upright" meaning "as straight as an arrow".
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mary6

6th May 2014, 21:20
Oh, don't worry about that, rusty. Disharmony reigns supreme, especially where crosswords are concerned. I was just after another opinion on the matter. Regardless of Chambers, I do feel that historically a crossbow user was not an archer.
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andyc

6th May 2014, 21:21
Chambers "bolt : an arrow esp. for a crossbow"
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rusty

6th May 2014, 21:43
I certainly take your point, Mary, but I feel the clue was a fair one.
And Chambers is my bible!
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toffer

6th May 2014, 21:43
I thought crossbows fired quarrels.
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rusty

6th May 2014, 22:00
They do. Apparently a quarrel is defined as "a square headed arrow used in crossbows."
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