n. [ See Ballista. ] (Chem.) A smokeless powder containing equal parts of soluble nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
a.
go ballistic. [ Colloq. ] [ PJC ]
Ballistic pendulum,
n. A rocket-propelled missile of long range which is guided only during the powered portion of its flight, which usually takes only a small part of the total flight time; -- contrasted with
intercontinental ballistic missile
intermediate range ballistic missile
n. [ Cf. F. balistique. See Ballista. ] The science or art of hurling missile weapons by the use of an engine. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]