Definition of ballista Ballista

bal•lis•ta

We found 6 definitions of ballista from 6 different sources.

What does ballista mean?

Noun
ballista - an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles
		catapult, arbalest, arbalist, bricole, mangonel, onager, trebuchet, trebucket
		engine motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

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ballista (Noun)
An ancient military engine , in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

ballista (n.)
An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

ballista
Balista, bal-lis′ta, n. a Roman military engine in the form of a crossbow, which, like the catapulta and the onager, propelled large and heavy missiles, chiefly through the reaction of a tightly twisted rope, or else by a violent movement of levers.—adj. Ballis′tic, projectile.—ns. Ballis′tic-pen′dulum, an instrument for ascertaining the velocity of military projectiles; Ballis′tite, an improved kind of gunpowder. [L.—Gr. ballein, to throw.]

ballista
An ancient military engine, like an enormous cross-bow, for throwing stones, darts, and javelins against the enemy with rapidity and violence. Also, the name of the geometrical cross called Jacob's staff.

The ballista (plural ballistae) was one of the first artillery weapons used by the Ancient Greeks. The ballista was invented around 400 BC in a Greek town called Syracuse. It was one of the first catapults, and shot very large and heavy spears far distances.