cross-bow

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
弓 meaning component

  Meaning component

gōng

  

bow

奴 sound component

  Sound component

  

slave

Evolution

弩 Bronze script Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Bronze script

Early Warring States (~400 BC)
弩 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
弩 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
弩 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

cross-bow, bow; downward stroke; crossbow

Most common words with 弩
Freq.
Word
Meaning

crossbow

剑拔弩张

at daggers drawn

弩弓

crossbow

弓弩

bow and crossbow

强弩之末

fig. spent force