Scrabble?! SPRINGALD

Definitions of SPRINGALD in various dictionaries:

A Springald, or espringal, is a mechanical artillery device for throwing large bolts and less commonly stones or Greek fire. It is depicted in a diagram in an 11th-century Byzantine manuscript, but in Western Europe is more evident in the late 12th century and early 13th century. It was constructed on the same principles as a Greek or Roman ballista, but with inward swinging arms. It was also known as a 'skein-bow', and was a torsion device using twisted skeins of silk or sinew to power two bow-arms.Examples have been drawn by Leonardo da Vinci, but at a time when he was also drawing powder-propelled weapons. There are no known archaeological finds of parts for these machines, but it is highly likely that due to the nature of the materials used that some material recycling took place at the time of their demise.