arbalest
UK /ˈɑːbəlɪst/ · US /ˈɑɹbəlɪst/ noun
Forms arbalests arbelest arbalet arbalist arblast
Synonyms
catapult arbalist ballista bricole mangonel onager trebuchet trebucket
Etymology
From Middle English arblast, from Old French arbaleste (modern arbalète), from Late Latin arcuballista, from Latin arcus + ballista.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A crossbow, consisting of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger, and a mechanical device for bending the bow. It served to throw arrows, darts, bullets, etc. [Written also arbalet and arblast.] Fosbroke.
Etymology [OF. arbaleste, LL. arbalista, for L. arcuballista; arcus bow + ballista a military engine. See Ballista.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “arbalest”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details