1753, from L.
ballista "ancient military machine for hurling stones" (in Eng. from 1598), from Gk.
ballistes, from
ballizein "to throw," from PIE base
*gwel- "to drip, spring forth, throw" (cf. Skt.
apa-gurya "swinging;" see
ball (2)).
Ballistic missile first attested 1954, attained extreme heights, hence fig. expression
go ballistic (mid-1980s) "become irrationally angry."