arbalest

• arbelest, arbalet, arbalist, arblast

From Middle English arblast, from Old French arbaleste (modern arbalète), from Late Latin arcuballista, from Latin arcus + ballista.

arbalest (plural arbalests)

1. A steel crossbow.
   • 2011, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Jerusalem: The Biography – A History of the Middle East, page 329:

     He excelled with the arbalest steel crossbow, winning the nickname the Arbalestier and joined Bahriyya regiment, the crack soldiers who defeated the Crusaders and became known as the Turkish Lions and the Islamic Templars.

2. A crossbowman who uses an arbalest.

• arbalets