ballista
[ buh-lis-tuh ]
/ bəˈlɪs tə /
noun, plural bal·lis·tae [buh-lis-tee] /bəˈlɪs ti/.
an ancient military engine for throwing stones or other missiles.
RELATED WORDS
pistol, bomb, sword, gun, missile, cannon, rifle, machete, ammunition, firearm, knife, shotgun, revolver, slingshot, catapult, dagger, spear, bayonet, ax, bludgeon
Nearby words
- ballgame,
- ballicatter,
- balliol,
- ballism,
- ballismus,
- ballistic,
- ballistic camera,
- ballistic galvanometer,
- ballistic missile,
- ballistic pendulum
Origin of ballista
1590–1600; < Latin, probably < Greek *ballistā́s, dialectal variant of *ballistḗs, equivalent to báll(ein) to throw + -istēs -ist
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for ballista
ballista
/ (bəˈlɪstə) /
noun plural -tae (-tiː)
an ancient catapult for hurling stones, etc
an ancient form of large crossbow used to propel a spear
Word Origin for ballista
C16: from Latin, ultimately from Greek ballein to throw
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
ballista
ancient war engine, late 14c., from Latin ballista, literally "a throwing machine," from Greek ballein "to throw" (see ballistics).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper