ARBALEST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does arbalest mean? 

• ARBALEST (noun)
  The noun ARBALEST has 1 sense:

1. an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

  Familiarity information: ARBALEST used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ARBALEST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

arbalest; arbalist; ballista; bricole; catapult; mangonel; onager; trebuchet; trebucket

Hypernyms ("arbalest" is a kind of...):

engine (an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.)

 Context examples 

Call Hugh of the Mill, and Woodman Wat, and Raoul with his arbalest and bolts.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“That is a very strong prod of yours,” said Johnston, shaking his grizzled head as he glanced at the thick arch and powerful strings of his rival's arbalest.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I would even go further, and say that I have done things with my arbalest which no Englishman could do with his long-bow.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“To my mind the long-bow is a better weapon than the arbalest, but it may be ill for me to prove it.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the other hand, they are the sorriest archers that I have ever seen, and cannot so much as aim with the arbalest, to say nought of the long-bow.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Which weapon hath the vantage now?” cried the Brabanter, strutting proudly about with shouldered arbalest, amid the applause of his companions.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I did but wish to show that the long-bow could do that which an arbalest could not do, for you could not with your moulinet have your string ready to speed another shaft ere the bird drop to the earth.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As he spoke he raised his arbalest to his shoulder and was about to pull the trigger, when a large gray stork flapped heavily into view skimming over the brow of the hill, and then soaring up into the air to pass the valley.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I know not about that, answered the Brabanter, but this I know, that though I have served for fourteen years, I have never yet seen an Englishman do aught with the long-bow which I could not do better with my arbalest.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)