trebuchet

Meaning

Noun

1. A medieval siege engine consisting of a large pivoting arm heavily weighted on one end.
2. A torture device for dunking suspected witches by means of a chair attached to the end of a long pole.

Verb

To shoot with a trebuchet.

Synonyms

bricole

arbalest

catapult

mangonel

onager

arbalist

trebucket

ballista

Translations

trébuchet

fundíbulo

trabucco

trabuquete

slingerarm

trabuco

mancınık

Blide

mangonneau

Trebuchet

trabocco

catapulta

tripantium

catapulte

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɹɛbəʃɛt/

Etymology

Cognate with Old High German: būh

Cognate with Old English: būc

In summary

From Old French trebuchet, trebuket et al. (modern trébuchet), from trebuchier (“to overthrow, topple”), from tres- + *buchier, from Old French buc (“trunk of the body”), from Old Frankish *būk (“belly, trunk, torso”), from Proto-Germanic *būkaz (“belly, abdomen, trunk”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰōw- (“to blow, swell”). Cognate with Old High German būh (“belly”), Old English būc (“belly, trunk”). More at bouk.