ballesta

From Latin ballista, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα (ballístra).

• IPA^(key): /baˈʎesta/ [baˈʎes̪.t̪a]
• Rhymes: -esta
• Syllabification: ba‧lles‧ta

ballesta f (plural ballestes)

1. crossbow (mechanised weapon based on the bow)

Derived from Latin ballista f, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα f (ballístra).

Compare Occitan balèsta f (Languedoc), balista f (Gascon), Spanish ballesta f, and French baliste f.

• IPA^(key): (Central) [bəˈʎes.tə]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [bəˈʎəs.tə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [baˈʎes.ta]

• Audio (Catalonia):

  (file)

ballesta f (plural ballestes)

1. crossbow (mechanised weapon, based on the bow and arrow)
2. ballista (ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow)
3. triggerfish (tropical fish of the family Balistidae)

   Synonym: porcell

   (Can we add an example for this sense?)

• ballester

• “ballesta”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007
• “ballesta”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025.
• “ballesta” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “ballesta” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Inherited from Old Spanish ballesta, from Latin ballista, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα (ballístra).

• Audio (Venezuela):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -esta
• Syllabification: ba‧lles‧ta

ballesta f (plural ballestas)

1. crossbow (mechanised weapon, based on the bow and arrow)
2. ballista (ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow)
3. (mechanics) leaf spring (spring in the form of a curved length of steel, used in the suspension of wheeled vehicles)

• “ballesta”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 10 December 2024