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Glite Dictionary
🏹 A crossbow archer 🏹 A large crossbow
arbalist

arbalist

9.9
A person who shoots a large medieval crossbow
  • noun
  • /ˈɑːrbəˌlɪst/
  • Archaic
translation icon : arbalestero
  • The skilled arbalist prepared his weapon before the tournament began.

Examples

  • During medieval battles, a arbalist could often change the course of a fight.

  • A museum exhibit displays the armor and crossbows once used by the arbalists of the 15th century.

  • The arbalist demonstrated remarkable skill during the tournament.

  • Many arbalists participated in the medieval fair.

  • In the Renaissance fair, the arbalist showed the crowd how to load and shoot a crossbow.

  • The talented arbalist impressed everyone with his precise aim and speed.

  • As the tournament began, the eager arbalist readied his crossbow for the first match.

Synonyms

archer
vsarbalist
44 3.9

A person who shoots a bow and arrow

uses a crossbow rather than a hand bow and arrows
bowman
vsarbalist
1 8.2

A person who shoots arrows with a bow

uses a crossbow instead of a bow and arrows
crossbowman
vsarbalist
  • Archaic
8.4

A soldier or person who shoots a crossbow in battle

is a crossbow user in any context rather than primarily a soldier

Surface Forms

arbalist singular
arbalists plural

Morphology

arbalist = arbalest (semi-transparent) = arbalest + ist

The meaning is built from 'arbalest' + '-ist' in the usual agentive way, but the base word is uncommon and the spelling is slightly irregular.

Etymology

Arbalist comes from old words that mean 'bow-thrower', from the parts arcus ('bow') and ballista ('to throw'). So an arbalist is a 'bow-shooter', a person who fires a heavy crossbow.