Fletching

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Fletching

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Fletching is the ancient art of aerodynamically stabilizing arrow

Arrow

An arrow is a pointed projectile that is shot with a bow . It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures....
s from materials such as feathers. The English-language surname "Fletcher" derives from this term, meaning "one who fletches." It is sometimes generally used for an arrow-maker, not only for someone restricted to this step of the process. The word is related to the French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
word flèche, meaning "arrow," via Old French

Old French

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Fletching is the ancient art of aerodynamically stabilizing arrow

Arrow

French language

Old French

Old French was the Romance languages dialect continuum spoken in territories which span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from around 1000 to 1300....
; the ultimate root is Frankish *fliukka.

As a noun, fletching refers to the fins or vanes attached to an arrow, each of which fins is known as a fletch. Traditionally, the fletching consists of three matched half-feathers attached near the back of the arrow or dart's shaft that are equally spaced around its circumference. Today, modern plastics may be used instead. Fletches are traditionally attached with silk thread but simpler methods are also used, such as gluing. The fletching is used to stabilize the arrow through air resistance in flight. Some fletches act to impart a spin on the projectile, but all are there to impart a drag on the tail of the projectile to ensure that it does not tumble during flight.

More generally, it can refer to any structures added to a projectile

Projectile

A projectile is any object propelled through space by the exertion of a force, which ceases after launch. In a general sense, even a Football or baseball may be considered a projectile....
in order to aerodynamically

Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is a branch of Dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them....
stabilize

Flight dynamics

Flight dynamics is the science of aircraft and spacecraft vehicle orientation and control in three dimensions. The three critical flight dynamics parameters are the angles of rotation in three dimensions about the vehicle's center of mass, known as pitch, roll and yaw ....
its flight, many of which resemble arrows in form and function. For instance, the feathers at the butt end of a dart

Dart (missile)

Darts are missile weapons, designed to fly such that a sharp, often weighted point will strike first. They can be distinguished from Javelin s by fletching and a shaft that is shorter and/or more flexible, and from arrows by the fact that they are not of the right length to use with a normal bow....
(of the type cast using an atlatl

Atlatl

An atlatl or spear-thrower is a tool that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity in dart-throwing, and includes a Plain bearing surface which allows the user to temporarily store energy during the throw....
) are very similar in purpose and construction to those used in arrows. Most of the techniques of fletching were likely adapted from earlier dart-making techniques. The fin

Fin

A fin is a surface used to produce lift and thrust or to steer while traveling in water, air, or other fluid media. The first use of the word was for Fish anatomy#Fins of fish, but has been extended to include other animal limbs and man-made devices....
s used to stabilize rocket

Rocket

A rocket or rocket vehicle is a missile, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust by the Reaction of the rocket to the ejection of fast moving fluid exhaust from a rocket engine....
s also work in a similar manner.

Fletching

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