I.a lārge military engine, resembling a bow, stretched with cords and thongs, by which masses of stone and other missiles were thrown to a great distance; a machine for projectiles, the ballista (orig. diff. from catapulta, which was used for throwing arrows; but afterwards often interchanged with it; cf. Vitr. 10, 16-18; Veg. 4, 22): centenariae, throwing stones of a hundred pounds weight, Lucil. ap. Non. p. 555, 25: ballistae lapidum et reliqua tormenta telorum eo graviores emissiones habent, quo sunt contenta atque adducta vehementius, *Cic. Tusc. 2, 24, 57; Caes. B. C. 2, 2; Liv. 24, 40, 15; 21, 11, 10; Tac. A. 12, 56; 15, 9; id. H. 3, 23; 3, 29; 4, 23; Gell. 7 (6), 3; Sil. 1, 334; Luc. 2, 686; Vulg. 1 Macc. 6, 20; “6, 51.—Sportively: meus est ballista pugnus, cubitus catapulta est mihi, umerus aries,” Plaut. Capt. 4, 2, 17. —For throwing other missiles, Caes. B. C. 2, 2; Luc. 2, 686; 3, 465.—
II. Transf., the weapon thrown, a missile, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 42; “Lucil. lib. XXVIII.: ballistas jactans centenarias. Sisenn. Hist. lib. IIII: ballistas quattuor talentarias,” Non. p. 555, 24 sq.—
III. Trop.: “jam infortunii intenta ballista probe,” an instrument, Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 73; id. Bacch. 4, 4, 58.
