arbalest
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ar·ba·lest
also ar·ba·list (är′bə-lĭst)n.
A medieval missile launcher designed on the principle of the crossbow.
[Middle English arblast, from Old English, from Old French arbaleste, from Late Latin arcuballista : Latin arcus, bow + Latin ballista, ballista; see ballista.]
ar′ba·lest′er (-lĕs′tər) n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
arbalest
(ˈɑːbəlɪst) ,arbalist
orarbelest
n
(Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) a large medieval crossbow, usually cocked by mechanical means
[C11: from Old French arbaleste, from Late Latin arcuballista, from Latin arcus bow + ballista]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ar•ba•lest
or ar•ba•list
(ˈɑr bə lɪst)n.
a powerful medieval crossbow with a steel bow, used to shoot stones, metal balls, arrows, etc.
[before 1100; Middle English, late Old English arblast < Old French arbaleste < Old Provençal < Late Latin arcuballista (see arc, ballista)]
ar′ba•lest`er (-ˌlɪs tər) n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
arbalist, arbalest
a crossbowman. Also arcubalist.
See also: Arrows-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. |  arbalest - an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missilesengine - an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.; "medieval engines of war" |
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