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pyrobolus. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
pyrobolus, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
pyrobolus in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
pyrobolus you have here. The definition of the word
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Latin
Etymology
Borrowed from Byzantine Greek πυροβόλος (purobólos, “flamethrower; cannon”),[1] from πῦρ (pûr, “fire”) + βόλος (bólos, “thrower”). Attested in Medieval Latin in Peter Damian (11th century) in reference to certain fiery rocks.
Noun
pyrobolus m (genitive pyrobolī); second declension (New Latin)
- cannon
- Synonym: tormentum
1550, Antonio Mizauld, Aesculapii et Uraniae Medicum , page 4:Quam rem dum visum erit, experiundo condiscetis, excusso à pyrobolo de ipso lapide igni: qui profectò tam acer est, vt aridis exceptus fomentis, populosam vrbem, ac vastissimam syluam leuiter incendere possit, & in cineres illico conuertere.- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- bomb, shell
- Synonym: bombus
1719, Johannes Knippenbergh, “Continuatio Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ Ducatus Geldriæ Ab Anno MDCCI usque ad Annum MDCCXXV”, in Historia Ecclesiastica Ducatus Geldriæ , page 5:[…] inter tormentorum globos interludebant alii missiles ignes, bombæ nempe, ac pyroboli ex mortariis minoribus (haubitzen vocant, recens inventum) ejaculati, eo igne Conventus Monialium Annuntiatarum in Cedron, aliæque domus portæ tiegelensi vicinæ ardebant; […]- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Declension
Second-declension noun.
Derived terms
References
- ^ Cf. στρεπτῶν ἐγχειριδίων πυροβόλων, “swivel-tube handheld flamethrowers” in Hero of Byzantium (c. 10th century), Parangelmata Poliorcetica 49.20, and the comments in Denis F. Sullivan (2000) Siegecraft: Two Tenth-century Instructional Manuals by “Heron of Byzantium” (Dumbarton Oaks Studies), page 231.