Brief Description:  A medieval crossbow (or arbalest) is a formidable ranged weapon featuring a horizontal bow-like assembly called a prod, mounted on a wooden frame known as a tiller. Firing heavy arrows known as bolts, it relied on mechanical locking systems to hold massive draw weights, allowing users to achieve high armor-piercing power with minimal training.

The crossbow consists of several highly specialized structural and mechanical components:

The Prod (or Lathe): The flexible, elastic bow section mounted horizontally across the front. Early medieval prods were made of laminated wood, horn, and sinew, but were eventually superseded by heavy, forged steel prods in the 14th century to withstand immense tension.

The Tiller (or Stock): The main body of the weapon, usually carved from dense, seasoned hardwoods like yew, ash, or hazel. It was often coated with glue or varnish and shaped to fit the shoulder comfortably.

The Nut: A rotating cylinder, traditionally made of horn, bone, or brass, embedded into the tiller. The bowstring was pulled back and locked into a notch in the nut, which held the string under full tension until released.

The Trigger Assembly: A simple lever mechanism connected to the nut. Pulling the trigger rotated the nut, releasing the string and snapping it forward to fire the bolt.

The Stirrup: A metal loop attached to the front of the crossbow. This allowed soldiers to plant the weapon on the ground, insert a boot, and use their leg and back muscles to pull the string back.

Bow Irons: Metal brackets that secured the prod firmly into the wooden tiller, taking on the severe physical shock generated each time the bow was fired.