Re: Sagittarius and crossbow

[Jacques Guy <jguy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim Reeds wrote:
> 
> And: the OED gives an 1100 citation for "arbalest", which is
> an older term for "crossbow".

I looked it up and was very surprised to read that it came
from the Latin "arcuballista". Then, I was not surprised
after all. A crossbow is a portable ballista, after all.
I chased it up in my Larousse encyclopedia, hoping to find
a date. None in the 1902 edition; I swiped my wife's 1930
edition... it was mentioned in the 4th century AD by
"Vegece".
Must be "Vegetius"
 but who was he?  Vegece... Flavius 
Vegetius Renatus, military historian, lived in
Constantinopolis...
Reminded me of 451, when Attila was stopped in "les Champs
Catalauniques" by....Aetius. I have a strong suspicions that
the Huns used crossbows, and that they were a Chinese
invention.
But I cannot remember where I read that (or whether I am
imagining it). Tout ca, c'est vieux comme Herode....