ballista

[buh-lis-tuh]

noun

plural

ballistae 

1. an ancient military engine for throwing stones or other missiles.

ballista

/ bəˈlɪstə /

noun

1. an ancient catapult for hurling stones, etc

2. an ancient form of large crossbow used to propel a spear

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballista¹

1590–1600; < Latin, probably < Greek *ballistā́s, dialectal variant of *ballistḗs, equivalent to báll ( ein ) to throw + -istēs -ist

Word History and Origins

Origin of ballista¹

C16: from Latin, ultimately from Greek ballein to throw

Example Sentences

Lightning flashed, illuminating several perched threateningly over the car with the makeshift ballista they had constructed.

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“The ballista fired the first dwarf in that direction, I think. Come on.”

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They did not have gunpowder, but they had artillery in the form of the ballista.

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In ancient times, the 2,000-year-old stone was used as a missile fired from a Roman “ballista” weapon.

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There were some crazy loops, like the way the ballista was enchanted, and a bunch of other stuff they played with on the storyboards.

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