ballesta

Asturian

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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

Noun

ballesta f (plural ballestes)

1. crossbow (mechanised weapon based on the bow)

Further reading

• “ballesta”, in Diccionariu de la llingua asturiana [Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Asturian), 1ª edición, Academia de la Llingua Asturiana, 2000, →ISBN
• Xosé Lluis García Arias (2002–2004), “ballesta”, in Diccionario general de la lengua asturiana [General Dictionary of the Asturian Language] (in Spanish), Editorial Prensa Asturiana, →ISBN

Catalan

Etymology

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.

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (Barcelona):

  (file)

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

   (Can we add an example for this sense? )

Related terms

• Ballester

Further reading

• “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.

Spanish

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /baˈʝesta/ [baˈʝes.t̪a]

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

• 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 [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 10 December 2024