a large medieval siege engine for hurling missiles consisting of a sling on a pivoted wooden arm set in motion by the fall of a weight
Word origin
C13: from Old French, from trebuchier to stumble, from tre-trans- + -buchier, from buc trunk of the body, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German būh belly, Old English buc
trebuchet in American English
(ˈtrɛbjuˌʃɛt)
noun
a medieval engine of war powered by a counterweight and used to hurl large stones and other missiles
: also ˈtrebucket (ˈtriˌbʌkɪt)
Word origin
ME < OFr < trebucher, to stumble < tre- (< L trans-, trans-) + buc, trunk, body < Frank *buk, trunk, akin to Ger bauch, belly < PGmc *bhug- < IE *bhū-, var. of base *bheu-, to grow, swell > be