trebucket 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; arbalist; bricole; onager; ballista.

WordNet

Treb"u*chet, Tre"buck*et noun (Also<
  • Trebuchet
  • Trebucket
)
Etymology
OF. trebuchet, trebukiet, an engine of war for hurling stones, F. trébuchet a gin, trap, a kind of balance, fr. OF. trebuchier, trebuquier, to stumble, trip, F. trébucher.
Definitions
  1. A cucking stool; a tumbrel. Cowell.
  2. A military engine used in the Middle Ages for throwing stones, etc. It acted by means of a great weight fastened to the short arm of a lever, which, being let fall, raised the end of the long arm with great velocity, hurling stones with much force.
  3. A kind of balance for weighing. Obs.

Webster 1913