trebuchet

[ treb-yoo-shet, treb-yoo-shet ]
/ ˈtrɛb yʊˌʃɛt, ˌtrɛb yʊˈʃɛt /

noun

a medieval engine of war with a sling for hurling missiles.
Also tre·buck·et [tree-buhk-it, treb-yoo-ket] /ˈtriˌbʌk ɪt, ˌtrɛb yʊˈkɛt/.

Origin of trebuchet

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French, equivalent to trebuch(er) to overturn, fall ( tre(s) across, over (< Latin trāns- trans-) + buc trunk of body < Germanic; compare Old English būc belly) + -et -et

Example sentences from the Web for trebuchet

British Dictionary definitions for trebuchet

trebuchet

trebucket (ˈtriːbʌkɪt)

/ (ˈtrɛbjʊˌʃɛt) /

noun

a large medieval siege engine for hurling missiles consisting of a sling on a pivoted wooden arm set in motion by the fall of a weight

Word Origin for trebuchet

C13: from Old French, from trebuchier to stumble, from tre- trans- + -buchier, from buc trunk of the body, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German būh belly, Old English buc