helepole

noun

hel·​e·​pole ˈhe-lə-ˌpōl 

variants or less commonly helepolis

hə-ˈle-pə-ləs 

plural helepoles ˈhe-lə-ˌpōlz  also helepolises hə-ˈle-pə-lə-səz 

: an ancient siege engine composed of a movable tower covering a battering ram

Word History

Etymology

French & Latin; French hélépole, from Latin helepolis, from Greek helepolis, from helein to take + polis city

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