† ˈarbalestre, -ter, -blaster Obs.
Forms: 3–5 alblastre, 5 awblaster, ablauster, arbalestre, -ter, arbelater, 5–7 arblaster, 6 alablaster, aublestere, arblestre, arbalaster.
[a. AFr. alblastre, albrastre, OF. arbalestre (also arbelestre, arblastre, arbastre):—L. arcuballistra, var. of arcuballista: see arbalest. In Fr. partly, in Eng. greatly, confused in form with prec.]
1. = arbalest.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden Rolls Ser. I. 297 Þe men..vseþ balles and alblastres [L. arcubalistis]. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4196 Of arblasters grete plente were. c 1480 Robt. Devyll 42 With arbelaters they shot many a quarrell. 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 104 A quarel out of an arbalestre. 1548 Hall Chron. 143 The shot of the Alablasters and Crosse-bowes. |
2. The missile shot from the arbalest.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 1211 With alblastres and with stones They slowe men. c 1400 Destr. Troy xiv. 5707 Of arowes & awblasters þe aire wex thicke. 1494 Fabyan vii. ccxxxv. 271 Many an arblaster & stone was shot & caste. |