ballista

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ballista, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα (ballístra), from βάλλω (bállō, “I throw”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bəˈlɪstə/

Noun

ballista (plural ballistas or ballistae or ballistæ)

1. An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

Etymology

< Latin

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɑlːistɑ/
• Hyphenation: bal‧lis‧ta

Noun

ballista

1. ballista (military engine)

Alternative forms

• balista
• ballistra

Etymology

From Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα (ballístra), from βάλλω (bállō, “I throw”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /balˈlis.ta/, [balˈlɪs.ta]
• Homophone: Ballista

Noun

ballista f (genitive ballistae); first declension

1. ballista

References

• ballista in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• ballista in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• ballista in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• ballista in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• ballista in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• ballista in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin