And: the OED gives an 1100 citation for "arbalest", which is an older term for "crossbow". -- Jim Reeds, AT&T Labs - Research Shannon Laboratory, Room C229, Building 103 180 Park Avenue, Florham Park, NJ 07932-0971, USA reeds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, phone: +1 973 360 8414, fax: +1 973 360 8178