Comes from Middle English onager, onagir ('wild ass; military catapult'), via Anglo-Norman onager, Middle French onager, onagre, and Old French onager, onagre ('wild ass; military catapult') (modern French onagre), from Late Latin onager ('large siege engine') and Latin onager ('wild ass'), from Hellenistic Ancient Greek ὄναγρος (ónagros, 'wild ass') and Byzantine Ancient Greek ὄναγρος (ónagros, 'large siege engine'), from ὄνος (ónos, 'ass') and ἄγριος (ágrios, 'wild') (from ᾰ̓γρός (ăgrós, 'countryside; field') (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- ('to drive')) and -ῐος (-ĭos, a suffix forming adjectives)). The 'military engine' sense alludes to the machine's strong recoil, likened to an onager's kick; see the 2007 quotation.

Rhymes for onager

pager eager wager lager rager meager Prager Yeager Trager voyager manager dowager

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of onager?

"onager" (noun) means a wild ass native to Asia, related to the horse; the Persian type is also called the Persian wild ass.

What are the different meanings of onager?

"onager" has 2 main meanings: 1. A wild ass native to Asia, related to the horse; the Persian type is also called the Persian wild ass; 2. An ancient catapult that used twisted rope to hurl stones.