nock

Attested since the 14th century, probably from a Scandinavian language (compare Swedish nock (“notch”), but compare Dutch nok.[1]

nock (plural nocks)

1. Either of the two grooves in a bow that hold the bowstring.
2. The notch at the rear of an arrow that fits on the bowstring.
   • Chapman

     He took his arrow by the nock.

3. (nautical) The upper fore corner of a boom sail or trysail.

nock (third-person singular simple present nocks, present participle nocking, simple past and past participle nocked)

1. (transitive) To fit an arrow against the bowstring of a bow or crossbow.
2. (transitive) To cut a nock in (usually in an arrow's base or the tips of a bow).

nock (plural nocks)

1. Misspelling of knock.

• conk