Arblast

//ˈɑɹblæst// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A wooden crossbow with a special drawing mechanism, used to fire bolts, stones, etc. historical

    "“[…] Here be two arblasts, comrade, with windlaces and quarrells—to the barbican with you, and see you drive each bolt through a Saxon brain.”"

Example

More examples

"“[…] Here be two arblasts, comrade, with windlaces and quarrells—to the barbican with you, and see you drive each bolt through a Saxon brain.”"

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English arblast, from late Old English arblast, from Old French arbaleste (modern French arbalète), from Late Latin arcuballista, from Latin arcus (“bow”).

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.