Machine for throwing or catapulting rocks during a siege. The device got its power from a counterweight which, when freed, released an arm which slung a missile. It was more accurate than its cousin, the *mangonel. The trebuchet was used to create further alarm and despondency among those it attacked when human and animal corpses were thrown into the castle or town under siege. [< OldFr. trebucher = to overturn, to stumble, to overthrow] -
Cf. Cuck-stool
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.