'arbalestre' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'arbalestre', where elements ultimately trace to Medieval Latin 'arbalista' (from Latin roots 'arcus' meaning 'bow' and 'ballista' meaning 'missile-throwing engine').

'arbalestre' changed from the Medieval Latin word 'arbalista' and the Old French 'arbalestre', and eventually appeared in Modern English in forms such as 'arbalest' and the less common 'arbalestre'.

Initially it referred to a mechanical missile engine or a bow-like siege device (via Latin/French usage), but over time it came to mean the handheld crossbow familiar from medieval warfare; the modern sense is 'crossbow'.