arblast

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old French arbaleste (modern French arbalète), from Late Latin arcuballista, from Latin arcus (bow).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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arblast (plural arblasts)

  1. (historical) A wooden crossbow with a special drawing mechanism, used to fire bolts, stones, etc.
    • 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter XIV, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. [], volume II, Edinburgh: [] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. [], →OCLC, page 281:
      [] Here be two arblasts, comrade, with windlaces and quarrells—to the barbican with you, and see you drive each bolt through a Saxon brain.”

Anagrams

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