3. (Mus.) A light part song, or madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus, -- most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers.
4. (Her.) A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls, which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color.
Ball"-flow`er (&?;), n. (Arch.) An ornament resembling a ball placed in a circular flower, the petals of which form a cup round it, -- usually inserted in a hollow molding.
||Bal*lis"ta (&?;), n.; pl. Ballistæ (&?;). [L. ballista, balista, fr. Gr. ballein to throw.] An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.
Bal"lis*ter (bl"ls*tr or bl*ls"tr), n. [L. ballista. Cf. Balister.] A crossbow. [Obs.]
Bal*lis"tic (&?;), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of hurling stones or missile weapons by means of an engine.