'ARBALIST, noun [From arcus, a bow, and balista, Latin , an engine to throw stones; Gr. to throw.] A cross-bow. This consists of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood, furnished with a string and a trigger; and is bent with a piece of iron. It serves to throw bullets, darts, arrows, etc.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI