Page "Crossbow" Paragraph 25

The smallest crossbows are pistol crossbows.

Others are simple long stocks with the crossbow mounted on them.

These could be shot from under the arm.

The next step in development was rifle shaped stocks that allowed better aiming.

The arbalest was a heavy crossbow which required special systems for pulling the sinew via windlasses.

For siege warfare the size of crossbows was further increased to hurl large projectiles such as rocks at fortifications.

The required crossbows needed a massive base frame and powerful windlass devices.

Such devices include the oxybeles.

The ballista has torsion springs replacing the elastic prod of the oxybeles, but later also developed into smaller versions.

" Ballista " is still the root word for crossbow in Romance languages such as Italian ( balestra ).