ballesta

Asturian

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

ballesta f (plural ballestes)

1. crossbow (mechanised weapon based on the bow)

Catalan

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

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

Related terms

• ballester

Further reading

• “ballesta” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “ballesta”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2024
• “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.

Spanish

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /baˈʝesta/ [baˈʝes.t̪a]

• IPA^(key): (most of Spain and Latin America) /baˈʝesta/ [baˈʝes.t̪a]
• IPA^(key): (rural northern Spain, Andes Mountains) /baˈʎesta/ [baˈʎes.t̪a]
• IPA^(key): (Buenos Aires and environs) /baˈʃesta/ [baˈʃes.t̪a]
• IPA^(key): (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay) /baˈʒesta/ [baˈʒes.t̪a]

• Audio (Venezuela):

  (file)

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

Noun

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)

Related terms

• ballestero

 

Further reading

• “ballesta”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014