Scorpion vs. Ballista — What's the Difference?

Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always ending with a stinger.

The ballista (Latin, from Greek βαλλίστρα ballistra and that from βάλλω ballō, "throw"), plural ballistae, sometimes called bolt thrower, was an ancient missile weapon that launched either bolts or stones at a distant target. Developed from earlier Greek weapons, it relied upon different mechanics, using two levers with torsion springs instead of a tension prod (the bow part of a modern crossbow).

A terrestrial arachnid with pincers similar to those of a lobster and a poisonous sting at the end of its jointed tail, which it can hold curved over its back. Most kinds live in tropical and subtropical areas.

An ancient and medieval engine of warfare, usually having a design similar to a crossbow, used to hurl heavy projectiles.

Any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones, chiefly of warm dry regions, having large claws and a segmented tail that curves over the back and is tipped with a venomous sting.

An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

Scorpion See Scorpius.

An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

Any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones, related to the spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting in the end.

Medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

(historical) An ancient military engine for hurling stones and other missiles.

(figurative) A very spiteful or vindictive person.

A cheerleading move in which one foot is pulled back and held up with both hands while the performer stands on the other foot.

A whip with points like a scorpion's tail.

Any one of numerous species of pulmonate arachnids of the order Scorpiones, having a suctorial mouth, large claw-bearing palpi, and a caudal sting.

The pine or gray lizard (Sceloporus undulatus).

The scorpene.

A painful scourge.

A sign and constellation. See Scorpio.

An ancient military engine for hurling stones and other missiles.

(astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Scorpio

The eighth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about October 23 to November 21

Arachnid of warm dry regions having a long segmented tail ending in a venomous sting