ballista
Ancient bolt thrower
A ballista was a large military weapon used in ancient and medieval warfare, essentially a giant crossbow mounted on a frame that hurled heavy bolts or stones at fortifications and enemy forces.
The term now appears mainly in historical contexts and fantasy games: The siege engineers positioned the ballista to breach the castle wall.
Siege engine for launching
- scorpionStinging arachnid with pincers
- onagerAsiatic wild ass
- trebuchetCounterweight-powered projectile launcher
- torsionRotational strain force
roman · legion · empire · warfare · artillery · military · engineering · siegecraft
Rotational strain force
- tensionStretched or strained state
- skeinsCoiled lengths of yarn
- windlassCranked cylinder for lifting
- ratchetToothed one-way mechanism
release · crank · frame · sinew · rope · spring · bowstring · arms
Threaded rod for nuts
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
- dartHandheld pointed projectile
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- missileSelf-guided airborne weapon
arrow · javelin · stone · ball · ammunition · point · head · fletching
Purpose or direction
velocity · range · accuracy · distance · propulsion · force · impact · target
catapult
Siege engine for launching
- scorpionStinging arachnid with pincers
- onagerAsiatic wild ass
- trebuchetCounterweight-powered projectile launcher
torsion · roman · legion · empire · warfare · artillery · military · engineering · siegecraft · byzantine
torsion
Rotational strain force
ratchet · release · crank · frame · sinew · rope · spring · bowstring · arms · stock
bolt
Threaded rod for nuts
missile · arrow · javelin · stone · ball · ammunition · point · head · fletching · incendiary
aim
Purpose or direction
arc · velocity · range · accuracy · distance · propulsion · force · impact · target · elevation
fortification
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
tower · defenders · assault · bombardment · breach · barrage · emplacement · position · crew · targeting
- medieval warfareknights, siege warfare, castle, castle siege, siege
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, rifle
- ancient weaponssword, swords, shield, shields, bow
- historical weaponsmusket, muskets, flintlock, flintlocks, pistols
- medieval itemssword, mace, flail, dagger, crossbow
- ranged weaponsbow and arrow, crossbow, longbow, rifle, pistol
ballistafortification
Strengthening defenses or nutrients
defensive wall · rampart · shield · armor · castle wall
- go ballisticLose temper violently
- going ballisticBecoming extremely angry suddenly
- goes ballisticLoses control explosively
- ballistic missilesSelf-propelled guided munitions
- ballistic vestsGarments deflecting ammunition
- ballistic trajectoryCurve of unpowered projectile