chu-ko-nu

Definition

An early Chinese repeating crossbow.

Etymology

From Mandarin 諸葛弩 /诸葛弩 (Zhūgě nǔ, literally “Zhuge crossbow”) Wade–Giles romanization: chu¹-ko³-nu³.

Example Sentences

• "The chu-ko-nu, equipped with a magazine to hold bolts or, as in this case, pellets, was used in China well into the twentieth century (Needham et al. 1994: 157-64; Selby 2003: 62-63)."
• "While traditional bows were all about placing carefully selected shots, the chu-ko-nu could rattle off about one shot every two seconds, raining down a shitstorm of indiscriminate crossbow fire that would scare the Fu Manchu right off the enemy."
• "Ejecting and replacing the magazine from her chu–ko–nu, she grimly fastened the ribbon holding the gruesome trophy to her belt."

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