[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/trebuchet/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [T](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/t/) / trebuchet

# trebuchet

noun (a trebuchet, trebuchets)

«trebuchet» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A trebuchet is a huge medieval siege machine like a giant catapult that throws heavy stones over castle walls, powered by a heavy counterweight that falls and swings a long arm with a sling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#m1)

### In the lessons

In history lessons trebuchets appear with castles and sieges in the Middle Ages, for example Edward I's huge trebuchet "Warwolf" at Stirling Castle in 1304. In science and D and T lessons pupils build small model trebuchets to learn about levers, forces, energy (gravitational potential energy turning into movement) and projectiles. Phrases: "build a trebuchet", "counterweight trebuchet", "model trebuchet".

### Examples

- The trebuchet hurled a huge stone at the castle wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#x1)
- We built a model trebuchet out of lolly sticks in D and T. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#x2)
- A trebuchet uses a heavy counterweight, not a twisted rope. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#x3)
- Edward I used a giant trebuchet called Warwolf. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#x4)
- The trebuchet's long arm acts like a lever. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#x5)
- Our trebuchet threw a marshmallow three metres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#x6)
- Trebuchets could throw stones weighing as much as a person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/#x7)

### Note

Pronounced "TREB-yoo-shet" (UK) or "treb-uh-SHAY" (from French). Spelling: trebuchet. It is not the same as a catapult or mangonel, which use twisted ropes or tension; a trebuchet uses a falling weight. In maths and science, a heavier counterweight or longer arm throws further.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «trebuchet» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trebuchet/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«trebuchet» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/trebuchet.html) on Mova free.