1.
[syn: catapult, arbalest, arbalist, ballista, bricole, mangonel, onager, trebuchet, trebucket]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Trebuchet \Treb"u*chet\, Trebucket \Tre"buck*et\, n. [OF.
trebuchet, trebukiet, an engine of war for hurling stones, F.
tr['e]buchet a gin, trap, a kind of balance, fr. OF.
trebuchier, trebuquier, to stumble, trip, F. tr['e]bucher.]
1. A cucking stool; a tumbrel. --Cowell.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
[1913 Webster]
3. A kind of balance for weighing. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Castigatory \Cas"ti*ga*to*ry\, n.
An instrument formerly used to punish and correct arrant
scolds; -- called also a ducking stool, or trebucket.
--Blacktone.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
trebucket
n 1: an engine that provided medieval artillery used during
sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and
other missiles [syn: catapult, arbalest, arbalist,
ballista, bricole, mangonel, onager, trebuchet,
trebucket]
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):
TREBUCKET. The name of an engine of punishment, said to be synonymous with
tumbrel. (q.v.)