Thread: archery vs arching

I used the word 'arching' instead of 'archery' (bow sport) and the American who was in the room laughed at it, there was no time for explanation (too many people, and just no time) and I haven't asked about it yet... So is there any alternative meaning for 'arching', I suppose there is some.

Arching is something like an architectural term, but any analogous feature could be said to be arching, it is about something curving. For example, someone arching their back.

A fishing rod could arch or be arching, when a fish is on the line. And the blue skies could be arching overhead, or there could be dismal clouds arching overhead. A dome arches overhead. It is from the analogy of the sky to a dome, that the usage of sky arching overhead derives, I think. Tree branches could be said to arch overhead, over a woodland path. A cat arching its back and hissing.

Originally Posted by alexsms

I used the word 'arching' instead of 'archery'

Have you picked it up while playing an online game, by any chance? "To arch" and "arching" are gamer slang terms used in a couple of MMORPGs to refer to shooting from bows and crossbows. As far as I know, neither of those words is used in this sense outside of the online gaming community.

yes, arching has nothing to do with archery.

Originally Posted by translationsnmru

Have you picked it up while playing an online game, by any chance? "To arch" and "arching" are gamer slang terms used in a couple of MMORPGs to refer to shooting from bows and crossbows. As far as I know, neither of those words is used in this sense outside of the online gaming community.

no, i wanted to say "стрельба из лука" (sports term only) not gamer terms at all...

Originally Posted by chaika

yes, arching has nothing to do with archery.

I would guess the root is the same. Arching is when an arch is formed out of something, archery entails the use of a bow, which is arched in shape.