a device contrived to hurt another person; boobytrap; an explosive contraption used in warfare to blow in a door or form a breach in a wall.
to "hoist by one's own petard" means you have been hurt or caught by the very device that you intended to hurt someone else. This phrase is often used mockingly, as if to say that you stepped in your own mess.
by Dr. Dave January 07, 2004
Medieval demolition. Set down by people, and then the person runs. In many cases, the person may fail to run, therefore they have been "blown away by their own petard", which is also a common saying.
by Steaver370 July 30, 2004
by esse March 23, 2005
by Steven September 16, 2003
by ROFL-CAKE December 01, 2010
by instrumentoffear March 24, 2009