Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Tormentum

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

TORMEN'TUM. A general term for any kind of military engine which discharged missiles (Cic. Caes. Liv.) by an impetus produced through the means of any elastic and twisted substance (from torquendo); including, therefore, the specific denominations Ballista, Catapulta, Scorpio, and others enumerated in the Classed Index.

2. (στρεβλωτήριον). Also, a general term for an instrument of torture (Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 19. § 32. Curt. vi. 11.); no doubt, because the rack was one of the commonest and earliest in use.

3. (ὑπόζωμα). A strong cable girt round the hull of a ship from stem to stern, for the purpose of strengthening her timbers in heavy weather. (Isidor. Orig. xix. 4. 4.) A number of these were kept in the arsenal, taken on board when a vessel was ordered out to sea, and put on as occasion required.