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n. An ancient and medieval engine of warfare used to hurl heavy projectiles at a target.

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

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

n. An ancient military engine used for throwing missiles.

n. [NL.] In anatomy, the astragalus, a bone of the tarsus.

n. an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

"From that shelter they suddenly appeared and began the attack, so that the guards were neither able to use the engine called the ballista (for these engines do not send their missiles except straight out), nor, indeed, could they ward off their assailants with their arrows, since the situation was against them on account of the large shields."

engine   

catapult   

ballistae   

forty-gun    boats'    ballistae    voco    guided-missile