A trebuchet is a battle machine that was used in the middle ages to throw heavy ammo at enemies. The payload could be thrown a far distance and do considerable damage, either by smashing down walls or striking the enemy while inside their stronghold. The trebuchet was preferred over a catapult due to its greater range capability and greater accuracy. A trebuchet works by using the energy of a falling counterweight to launch a big load, using mechanical advantage to achieve a high launch speed.
This relates to engineering because the french had built this to serve as their ultimate weaponry, much like how other kingdoms used the catapult.
