Webster's 1913 Dictionary
ARBALEST; ARBALIST
Ar "ba *lest, Ar "ba *list, n. Etym: [OF. arbaleste, LL. arbalista, for L. arcuballista; arcus bow + ballista a military engine. See Ballista. ] (Antiq.)
Defn: 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.
ARBALESTER; ARBALISTER
Ar "ba *lest `er, Ar "ba *list `er, n. Etym: [OF. arblastere, OF. arbalestier. See Arbalest. ]
Defn: A crossbowman. [Obs. ] Speed.
New American Oxford Dictionary
arbalest
ar ba lest |ˈärbəlist ˈɑrbələst | ▶noun historical a crossbow with a special mechanism for drawing back and releasing the string. ORIGIN Old English arblast, from Old French arbaleste, from late Latin arcubalista, from Latin arcus ‘bow ’ + ballista (see ballista ).
Oxford Dictionary
arbalest
arbalest |ˈɑːbəlɛst |(also arblast ) ▶noun historical a crossbow with a special mechanism for drawing back and releasing the string. ORIGIN Old English arblast, from Old French arbaleste, from late Latin arcubalista, from Latin arcus ‘bow ’ + ballista (see ballista ).
The Wordsmith Dictionary