bolt

This was because crossbow bolts were short and heavy, with a flat base to absorb the initial impact of the string. The flat base and relatively crude leather fins (crossbow bolts were produced in volume and were not as carefully finished as arrows) were aerodynamically inefficient, so that velocity…

…the missile, usually called a bolt, a sear to hold the string in the cocked position, and a trigger to release it. The crossbow, or arbalest, was an important technical achievement that enjoyed the further distinction of being outlawed (at least for use against Christians) by the Lateran Council of…