Arbalist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term used to describe someone who has mastery in wielding a specific ranged weapon known for its ability to shoot bolts with a mechanical mechanism similar to that of a bow
2. This designation refers to an individual skilled in operating a unique device that launches projectiles via a trigger mechanism resembling that of archery equipment
3. One who expertly handles or shoots bolts from a mechanical bow-like weapon

Etymology: The word "arbalist" is an alternative form of "arbalest", and the story behind both is a neat compound of two ancient weapons. The root is Latin "arcus", meaning "bow", joined to "ballista", the large siege engine that hurled stones and bolts. Late Latin fused them into "arcuballista", a bow-mounted machine, and that is the ancestor of the crossbow. The word then passed through Old French "arbaleste" (modern "arbalète") and reached English as Middle English "arblast". The sense shifted over the centuries from the weapon itself toward the person who wields it, which is how "arbalist" came to mean a skilled crossbow shooter. The "-ist" ending marks that agent sense, matching the spelling pattern of other English nouns for people who practise a craft.