bow drill

English

Noun

bow drill (plural bow drills)

1. A simple rotational hand-operated tool of prehistoric origin, used as a fire drill for ignition, or for other drilling tasks such as woodwork and dentistry.
   • 1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 124:

     [I]n the year 1000 the trepanner had at his disposal the semi-mechanical bow drill that was used by carpenters and masons of the time.

Translations

a simple hand-operated tool — see fire drill