onager
[ on-uh-jer ]
/ ˈɒn ə dʒər /
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noun, plural on·a·gers, on·a·gri [on-uh-grahy]. /ˈɒn əˌgraɪ/.
Also called A·si·at·ic wild ass . a near threatened wild ass, Equus hemionus, inhabiting southwestern Asia and formerly distributed also through the Middle East and eastern Asia: the onager is one of the fastest mammals, able to run, and sometimes exceed, 40 miles (64 km) per hour, and, unlike most donkeys and horses, it has never been domesticated.
an ancient and medieval military catapult for throwing stones.
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Origin of onager
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin onager, onagrus “wild ass,” Late Latin also “catapult, siege machine for throwing projectiles,” from Greek ónagros “wild ass,” Late Greek also “catapult, siege engine,” alteration of ónos ágrios “ass of the fields, wild ass”; see acre
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for onager
onager
/ (ˈɒnədʒə) /
noun plural -gri (-ˌɡraɪ) or -gers
a Persian variety of the wild ass, Equus hemionusCompare kiang
an ancient war engine for hurling stones
Word Origin for onager
C14: from Late Latin: military engine for stone throwing, from Latin: wild ass, from Greek onagros, from onos ass + agros field
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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