trebuchet

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 →

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 →
• We built a model trebuchet out of lolly sticks in D and T. tree →
• A trebuchet uses a heavy counterweight, not a twisted rope. tree →
• Edward I used a giant trebuchet called Warwolf. tree →
• The trebuchet's long arm acts like a lever. tree →
• Our trebuchet threw a marshmallow three metres. tree →
• Trebuchets could throw stones weighing as much as a person. tree →

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.