An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Armbrust

by Friedrich Kluge

Armbrust, feminine, ‘crossbow,’ from the equivalent Middle High German armbrust, neuter, which must be a corruption of Middle Latin arbalista, arcubalista, literally ‘bow for projectiles’ (Latin arcus, Greek βἀλλευν). A compound of Arm and Brust is, properly speaking, impossible in German, especially as the Middle High German word is neuter. From Middle Latin arbalista comes the equivalent French arbalète; compare English arbalist, Dutch armborst, Italian balestra, from the last of which the older Modern High German Balester, ‘cross-bow for shooting bullets,’ is borrowed.