Ar"ba*lest (#), Ar"ba*list (#), n. [OF. arbaleste, LL. arbalista, for L. arcuballista; arcus bow + ballista a military engine. See Ballista.] Antiq.
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.
© Webster 1913.