Hypertext Webster Gateway: "trebucket"
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)
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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
trebucket
n : medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine
for hurling large stones [syn: {catapult}, {arbalest}, {arbalist},
{bricole}, {onager}, {trebuchet}]
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