Middle English Dictionary Entry
arblast, -blastē̆r n.
Entry Info
| Forms | arblast, -blastē̆r n. Also arblest, arblawst, arbalast, arbelast; arweblast, arowblast(er; al(a)blast(er, awblast(er, ablast(er. |
| Etymology | OF arbaleste, -estre, albaleste, aubalestre & AF alblastre (from L arcu-ballista). ME arwe-blast, arow-blast(er represent a popular analysis of the loanword as 'arrow hurler'. Also cp. late OE arblast. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A weapon for discharging quarrels, stones, etc., consisting of a bow set crosswise on a shaft; a crossbow, an arbalest; (b) a missile shot from a crossbow; ~ shute.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Chris.(LdMisc 108)204 : With bouwe and Areblast [Hrl: arblestes] þare schoten to him four hondret knyȝtes.
- c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch)117/125 : Scheteþ to hem wiþ alblast, þe teyled doggen to agast.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)88/1843 : In his hond an arblast heldand, And þer inne a quarel taisand.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3312 : Þe quarels floȝe out þikke of arbelastes y-mad of tre.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.297 : Þe men of þat lond..vseþ balles and alblastres [L arcubalistis].
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5274 : Pro alblastes strynges.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)267a/a : Þe emperour slough oon addre wiþ alblastes..þe whiche adder was an hundred and twenty foote longe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)273a/b : Of oxe hornes ben y made tippynge and nokkes to bowes, to alblastres, and arowes.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)147 : With arblaster [vr. alblaster] or bowe bent.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2592 : With speres, bowes, and with ablasters [vrr. arblasters, alblastyrs, arblastres, arwblasters, arowblasters].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)19b/b : It is rounde on ayþer partie to þe maner of a knot of ane alblaster.
- c1425(?a1400) Arthur (Lngl 55)459 : Bowes, arwes, and arblastere Schot sore all y-vere.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.269 : Bowes, arowes..arbalastes, and oþer habilementes of werre.
- (1444) Will Daubeney in Som.RS 19342 : A shef of arwes, an arblast of stile.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2950 : They bend her arow-blastes and stones cast.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)39a : Arblasteris þe whiche schotten arewes & querelles with arblastes and bowes of brake.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1400 : With ax & with alblaster [vr. awblester] & alkens wapen.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.Antiochus (SeldSup 52)p.22 : Of allablasters & of oþer geyre.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)241 : For shot of Arblast & of bowe.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1364 : Charlys hent an arblast, and a quarel he let flen.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)2302 : They schette dartes and speres amonge Wyth abblasters, that were stronge.
b
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1205 : Wiþ alblastres and wiþ stones Þey slowe men.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)2950 : Faste þey foughte boþe fflutes, Persed schipes wiþ arblast schutes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5707 : Of Arowes & Awblasters þe aire wex thicke.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)3046 : So fell flyght was of flonys..Of arows & of alblastres, þat all þe Ayre blyndyd.
2.
(a) arblastes draught, ~ shot, the range of a crossbow; (b) ~ of (to the) tour, a crossbow drawn by a winch mechanism; (c) ~ of vis, a crossbow drawn by a screw mechanism.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)17 : So fast þat an hare shuld haue ynowe to doon, to ouyrtake hym wiþ in an harousblast shoote [Dgb: arowblast shote].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)27131 : Foure arblastesse drawht onsondir they were, Ech banere sewinge Aftyr oþer there.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)1457 : Þaire dynttes felle so sadde & sare, þat wele ane alblastire schott & mare þay myghte no wapyns welde.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)47 : Vor ase zayþ þe uorbisne: 'levedi of uaire diȝtinge is arblast to þe tour.'
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)44/5 : Men seyn in olde prouerbes: 'Ladies of riche and gay apparail is arwblast of tour.'
c
- [ (1342) *Cust.Acc.(PRO) 176/3 [OD col.] () : vj Alblast' de vys. ]
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3998 : Richard bente an arweblast [Add: arblasters] off vys, And schotte it to a tour fful euene, And it smot þorwȝ Sarezynes seuene.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)5267 : Arweblast [Add: alblastirs] off vys wiþ quarrel.
3.
A surgical instrument, with a mechanism somewhat like that of a crossbow, used for extracting foreign bodies from wounds.
Associated quotations
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)57a/b : Of the witte of drawynge out of arwes & of oþer þinges smyten yn..The eyȝte instrument is baliste i. arweblaste [*Ch.(1): a balista i. awblast].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)105/346b : Balistro: to schete with an a weblast.
Note: New spelling
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. arbalest.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. arbalester.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. arweblast.