'arblast' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'arbaleste', ultimately from Medieval Latin 'arcuballista', where 'arcus' meant 'bow' and 'ballista' meant 'missile-thrower'.

'arblast' changed from Old French 'arbaleste' (and Medieval Latin 'arcuballista') into Middle English forms such as 'arbleste' and later appeared in English as 'arblast' (an archaic/variant form of 'arbalest').

Initially, it referred broadly to a powered missile-throwing device (from 'ballista'), and over time it narrowed to mean the handheld crossbow now known as a 'crossbow' or 'arbalest'.