metella
From LSJ
Ἀλλ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἐλπίδων ἄνδρας τὸ κέρδος πολλάκις διώλεσεν → But the profit-motive has destroyed many people in their hope for gain
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
mĕtella: ae, f. (prob. adj., sc. machina),
I a basket filled with stones, which the besieged threw down on the heads of the besiegers (post-class.): ut de ligno crates facerent, quas metellas vocaverunt, lapidibusque complerent, etc. (al. metilas, medullas, metulas), Veg. Mil. 4, 6.