Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 4–5 alblaster(e, 4–7 arblaster(e, 5 awblaster, allblawster, 5–7 arbalaster, 5–9 arbalester, 9 arbalister, -estier. Also 5 arowblaster. [a. AFr. alblaster, arblaster, OF. arbalestier, arbelestier:—L. arcuballistāri-us one who used an arcuballista; mixed with other OF. synonyms, as arbalestre:—L. *arcuballistor, and arbalestère, accus. arbalesteor:—L. arcuballistātor, -ōrem (med.L. arbalistātor); and phonetically or etymologically corrupted as in ARBALEST.] A soldier armed with an arbalest, a cross-bowman.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron., 205. Þat sauh an alblastere, a quarelle lete he flie.
1388. Wyclif, 2 Sam. viii. 18. Forsothe Bananye … was ouer archeris and arblasteris [1382 alblasters; v.r. arowblasters].
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., IX. vi. 20. Foure hundyre Awblasteris.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xxi. Their Arbalasters … and their best archers.
c. 1440. Morte Arth., 2426. All-blawsters at Arthure egerly schottes.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., VII. (1520), 82/2. The arbalesters smote hym with a quarel.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. vii. 67. An Arbalaster … standing vpon the wall.
1643. Prynne, Doom Coward., 4. Men of Armes and Arblasters.
1848. in Chron. Crusaders (Bohn), 322. An arbalester, and another behind him to stretch the arbalest as quickly as possible.
1861. G. M. Musgrave, By-roads & Battle-Fl., 288. The said arbalestier corps comprehending the greater part of the French nobility.
1866. Kingsley, Herew., vii. 131. The archers and arbalisters amused themselves with shooting.
