Toxophilite Society

The Toxophilite Society was an English archery society established in the late 18th century. The word "toxophilite" comes from the Greek words "toxon" (bow and arrow) and "philos" (loving). Archery has a long history as both a weapon and a sport, with early societies forming in England during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Toxophilite Society's patron was the prince of Wales in 1787, who established standard shooting distances still used today. While the word "toxophilite" is rarely used now, it is a descendant of the Greek word for "poison for arrows".12