onager

[ on-uh-jer ]

noun

, plural on·a·gers, on·a·gri [on, -, uh, -grahy].

1. Also called A·si·at·ic wild ass. a near threatened wild ass, Equus hemionus, inhabiting southwestern Asia and formerly distributed also through the Middle East and eastern Asia: the onager is one of the fastest mammals, able to run, and sometimes exceed, 40 miles (64 km) per hour, and, unlike most donkeys and horses, it has never been domesticated.
2. an ancient and medieval military catapult for throwing stones.

onager

/ ˈɒnədʒə /

noun

1. a Persian variety of the wild ass, Equus hemionus Compare kiang
2. an ancient war engine for hurling stones

Word History and Origins

Origin of onager¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin onager, onagrus “wild ass,” Late Latin also “catapult, siege machine for throwing projectiles,” from Greek ónagros “wild ass,” Late Greek also “catapult, siege engine,” alteration of ónos ágrios “ass of the fields, wild ass”; acre

Word History and Origins

Origin of onager¹

C14: from Late Latin: military engine for stone throwing, from Latin: wild ass, from Greek onagros, from onos ass + agros field

Example Sentences

Conservationists at the zoo said there are less than 600 surviving wild onagers, but the birth "of the leggy youngster" could help safeguard the species from extinction.

From BBC

Since its homeland includes the Fertile Crescent, the cradle of Western civilization and animal domestication, ancient peoples must have experimented extensively with onagers.

From Literature

The onager swivels his anguished head and meets the lion's ferocious gaze, while blood streams on the ground in a cluster of zigzag lines like jagged bolts of lightning.

From Los Angeles Times

‘Artemis knows a lot about missile weapons. She told us Octavian has ordered some . . . surprises for Camp Half-Blood. He’s used most of the legion’s treasure to purchase Cyclopes-built onagers.’

From Literature

An onager - a member of the horse family at Whipsnade Zoo doesn't seem to be fussed about the snow in his field.

From Children's BBC