ballista

bal·lis·ta

B0044300 (bə-lĭs′tə)n. pl. bal·lis·tae (-tē′) An ancient and medieval engine of warfare, usually having a design similar to a crossbow, used to hurl heavy projectiles.

---

[Latin, from Greek ballistēs, from ballein, to throw; see g^welə- in Indo-European roots.]

ballista

(bəˈlɪstə) n, pl -tae (-tiː) 1. (Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) an ancient catapult for hurling stones, etc2. (Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) an ancient form of large crossbow used to propel a spear[C16: from Latin, ultimately from Greek ballein to throw]

bal•lis•ta

(bəˈlɪs tə)

n., pl. -tae (-tē). an ancient military engine for throwing stones or other missiles. [1590–1600; < Latin, probably < Greek *ballistḗs=báll(ein) to throw + -istēs -ist]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

ballista - an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missilesarbalest, arbalist, bricole, mangonel, onager, trebuchet, trebucket, catapultengine - an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.; "medieval engines of war"

Translations

βαλλίστραbalista