goat's foot

plural goat's feet · alternative goatsfoot

1. A particular type of mechanism for cocking a crossbow.

   Two arms of the goat's foot were placed back of the pin, and hooks on the pivot were used to grasp the string.

   2006, William Hovey Smith, Crossbow Hunting, Stackpole Books, →ISBN

   4 more examples

   A number of halberds, or battle-axes, also was carried. Other ordnance included two goat's feet (crossbow cocking mechanisms) and bombs, grenades, and combustible balls “for fireworks.”

   1978, J. Barto Arnold, Robert S. Weddle, The Nautical Archeology of Padre Island: The Spanish Shipwrecks of 1554

   Besides being difficult, hand cocking some bows gets the string a little off center. This can reduce accuracy. From ancient times, crossbow cocking devices have helped solve both problems. A modern version of the goat's foot lever does ...

   1983, Popular Mechanics, page 129

   The “Frankish crossbow” used by the Crusaders was more powerful and greatly impressed Muslims who encountered it […] As crossbows became more powerful a “goat's foot lever” or rack-and-pinion device was used to draw them.

   2006, Cathal J. Nolan, The Age of Wars of Religion, 1000-1650: An Encyclopedia of Global Warfare and Civilization, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 201

   The goat's foot lever is about the length of my forearm and as wide as the stock. This machine's design is simple. The lever's two tines hook onto the loose string. The string is tightened by pulling the lever towards me.

   2011, G. E. M. Thomas, Strong Roads a Spanish Shipwreck Survivor in Ancient Hawaii, G E M Thomas, →ISBN, page 155

2. Scutiger pes-caprae, a species of fungus in the order Russulales.