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Definition 2024

trebuchet

trebuchet

See also: trébuchet

English

trebuchet

Alternative forms

Noun

trebuchet ‎(plural trebuchets)

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

Translations

Old French

Etymology

From the verb trebuchier.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /trɛbuˈtʃɛt/

Noun

trebuchet m ‎(oblique plural trebuchez or trebuchetz, nominative singular trebuchez or trebuchetz, nominative plural trebuchet)

  1. trebuchet, bird trap
  2. fall (instance of falling)
  3. place where a fall occurs
  4. trap; ambush

Descendants

Etymology

From Old French trebuchet, trebuket et al. (modern trébuchet), from trebuchier ‎(“to overthrow, topple”), from tre- + *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.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtɹɛbəʃɛt/, /ˈtɹɛb.jə.ʃeɪ/, /ˈtɹɛb.ju.ʃeɪ/
  • (US) enPR: trěb’yo͞o-shet, IPA(key): /ˈtɹɛb.juˌʃɛt/, /ˈtɹɛb.jəˌʃeɪ/

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