Glossary

Arbalest

A tension-powered ballista (giant crossbow)

Ballista

A two-armed, torsion-or tension-powered, arrow-or rock-throwing, direct-fire siege engine

Ballista bolt

A spear-like projectile shot from a ballista

Catapult

A single-armed, torsion-or tension-powered, rock-throwing, indirect-fire siege engine.

Closed-cell foam

Stiff, resilient foam similar to sleeping pads

Direct fire

Delivery of a missile in a straight, flat trajectory directly into the target

Effect weapons

Novelty missiles, such as simulated animal parts, usually with no real damaging ability

Eyebolts

Hardware resembling a bolt formed into a circle on the non-threaded end

Footprint

Ground area covered by an engine as viewed from directly above, measured as length times width for engines with a square base and length times half the width for engines with a triangular or diamond-shaped footprint

Indirect fire

Delivery of a missile in a high, arcing trajectory ending at the target

Light-density foam

Foam weighing up to ½ pound per cubic foot (0.23 kilograms per 0.03 cubic meters)

Mangonel

A man-powered trebuchet

Man-powered

An engine in which the mechanical energy to launch the projectile or ammunition is supplied directly by people, pulling on ropes for example, rather than being stored mechanically (i.e. by a spring or raised counterweight) for later release.

Mechanical trigger device

A device used to hold the engine in a braced or cocked state and to activate (shoot) the weapon

Medium-density foam

Foam weighing between ½ and 4 pounds per cubic foot (0.23 to 1.8 kilograms per 0.03 cubic meters)

Onager

See Catapult

Open-cell foam

Light, sponge-like foam, such as upholstery or pillow foam

Perrier

A man-powered trebuchet Siege engines

Siege Engines

Missile-launching devices designed to deliver missiles larger than already established small arms ammunition

Siege structures

Devices such as towers or ramps that are used to support personnel, but are not fitted with active weaponry

Specialty ammunition

Special-purpose ammunition, such as simulated flaming missiles

Trebuchet

A gravity-or man-powered, sling-type, rock-throwing, indirect-fire siege engine

Turnbuckle

Hardware consisting of 2 eyebolts fitted to a threaded barrel, used for adjusting the length of cables

Winch

A winding device, usually geared and equipped with a ratchet

Windlass

A winding device, usually consisting of a spool with double crank handles, a set of pulleys, and hooks, but not normally equipped with a ratcheting device