ballista Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles
    catapult; mangonel; arbalest; trebuchet; trebucket; arbalist; bricole; onager.

WordNet

Bal*lis"ta noun
Etymology
L. ballista, balista, fr. Gr. to throw.
Wordforms
plural Balliste
Definitions
  1. An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

Webster 1913