ballisticses

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."