onager

American  

[on-uh-jer] / ˈɒn ə dʒər /

noun

plural

onagers, onagri

1. Also called Asiatic 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.

2. an ancient and medieval military catapult for throwing stones.

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onager British  

/ ˈɒnədʒə /

noun

1. a Persian variety of the wild ass, Equus hemionus Compare kiang

2. an ancient war engine for hurling stones

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Etymology

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”; acre

Example Sentences

Conservationists at the zoo said there are less than 600 surviving wild onagers, but the birth "of the leggy youngster" could help safeguard the species from extinction.

From BBC

Since its homeland includes the Fertile Crescent, the cradle of Western civilization and animal domestication, ancient peoples must have experimented extensively with onagers.

From Literature

Is it any wonder Roman soldiers applied the name onager to the mechanical catapult they used for besieging walled compounds?

From Los Angeles Times

Near the first onager, three Earthborn were sunning themselves on the rocks.

From Literature

An onager - a member of the horse family at Whipsnade Zoo doesn't seem to be fussed about the snow in his field.

From Children's BBC