onager
onager Lexical Profile
onager Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A wild ass (Equus hemionus) native to the arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern Asia, characterized by a pale sandy coat and a distinct dark dorsal stripe.
"Conservationists in Iran are working to protect the endangered Persian onager from habitat loss and poaching."
An ancient and medieval Roman torsion siege engine that functioned like a catapult, utilizing a single throwing arm to hurl heavy stones or incendiary projectiles.
"During the siege, Roman engineers constructed a massive onager to hurl heavy stones against the fortress walls."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'onager', borrowed from Greek 'onagros' (wild ass), derived from 'onos' (ass) + 'agrios' (wild). The Roman siege engine was named after the animal because the violent kicking motion of its mechanical throwing arm resembled the kick of a wild ass.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.