I.a striking against, a tripping, stumbling (postclass.).
I. Lit.: “crebris offensaculis contusa crura,” App. M. 9, p. 221, 3.—
II. Transf., the object against which one stumbles, a stumbling-block: “lapis ecce nostro fixus offensaculo est,” Prud. Apoth. 45; so, “adversarius nostris offensacula pedibus latenter opponit,” Lact. Opt. D. 1.