1. a medieval military engine used to hurl stones and other projectiles
Usage: historical

Examples

• The castle defenders used a mangonel to launch rocks at the attacking army.
• Medieval siege warfare often involved mangonels and other throwing machines.
• The mangonel could hurl stones over great distances with considerable force.
• Engineers positioned the mangonel on the hill overlooking the enemy fortress.
• The wooden frame of the mangonel creaked under the tension of the twisted ropes.
• Soldiers loaded another boulder into the mangonel’s launching cup.