The Collaborative International Dictionary
Birdbolt
Birdbolt \Bird"bolt`\, n.
A short blunt arrow for killing birds without piercing them.
Hence: Anything which smites without penetrating.
--Shak.
Wiktionary
birdbolt
n. 1 A short blunt arrow for killing birds without piercing them. 2 (context figuratively English) Anything that smites without penetrate.