Hypertext Webster Gateway: "trebuchet"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cucking stool \Cuck"ing stool`\ (k?k"?ng st??l`). [Cf. AS.
scealfingst[=o]l, a word of similar meaning, allied to
scealfor a diver, mergus avis; or possibly from F. coquine a
hussy, slut, jade, f. of coquin, OE. cokin, a rascal; or cf.
Icel. k?ka to dung, k?kr dung, the name being given as to a
disgracing or infamous punishment.]
A kind of chair formerly used for punishing scolds, and also
dishonest tradesmen, by fastening them in it, usually in
front of their doors, to be pelted and hooted at by the mob,
but sometimes to be taken to the water and ducked; -- called
also a {castigatory}, a {tumbrel}, and a {trebuchet}; and
often, but not so correctly, a {ducking stool}. --Sir. W.
Scott.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
trebuchet
n : medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine
for hurling large stones [syn: {catapult}, {arbalest}, {arbalist},
{bricole}, {onager}, {trebucket}]
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