Origin: 1300–50; ME < MF, equiv. to trebuch(er) to overturn, fall (tre(s) across, over (< L trāns-trans-) + buc trunk of body < Gmc; cf. OE būc belly) + -et-et
treb·u·chet (trěb'yə-shět') n. A medieval catapult for hurling heavy stones.
[Middle English, from Old French, from trebucher, to overthrow : tre-, over (from Latin trāns-; see trans-) + but, trunk of the body (of Germanic origin).]