(military) A kind of covered shed, formerly used by besiegers in filling up and passing the ditch of a besieged place, sapping and mining the wall, etc.
“Alon's idea, which became his master's thesis, was to feed the birds directly, by scattering corn near the lake with a mechanical sower.”
“It's loosely based on the parable of the sower, so we have three images, a man ploughing a field, a man sowing seed and a man reaping a harvest.”
“Oats had to be transported to the field where the sower, carrying a supply in a canvas apron hanging around his neck, used both hands to scatter seed as he walked.”