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.
