Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Bow-compass
Bow′-comˊpass
,Noun.
pl.
Bow-compasses
. 1.
An arcograph.
2.
A small pair of compasses, one leg of which carries a pencil, or a pen, for drawing circles. Its legs are often connected by a bow-shaped spring, instead of by a joint.
3.
A pair of compasses, with a bow or arched plate riveted to one of the legs, and passing through the other.
It is a grave defect in the splendid tale of Tom Jones . . . that a
Bowdlerized
version of it would be hardly intelligible as a tale. F. Harrison.