Obs. [a. OF. balestier:—L. ballistārius, late L. balestārius arbalester; cf. BALLISTIER.] An arbalester, a crossbow-man.

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1489.  Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxiii. 71. Gonners, balesters, and archers.

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1613.  T. Godwin, Rom. Antiq. (1658), 263. Near unto which standeth the cunning balister.

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