catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Ballistic \Bal*lis"tic\, a.
     1. Of or pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of hurling
        stones or missile weapons by means of an engine.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Pertaining to ballistics[2], or to a projectile in a
        gravitational field.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     3. frenzied; very angry; -- used mostly in the phrase
  
     go ballistic. [Colloq.]
        [PJC]
  
     Ballistic pendulum, an instrument consisting of a mass of
        wood or other material suspended as a pendulum, for
        measuring the force and velocity of projectiles by means
        of the arc through which their impact impels it.
        [1913 Webster]

  go ballistic
       v : get very angry and fly into a rage; "The professor combusted
           when the student didn't know the answer to a very
           elementary question"; "Spam makes me go ballistic" [syn:
           flip one's lid, blow up, throw a fit, hit the roof,
            hit the ceiling, have kittens, have a fit, combust,
            blow one's stack, fly off the handle, flip one's
           wig, lose one's temper, blow a fuse]

  go ballistic
     vb.
     1 (lb en idiomatic) To become very angry and irrational.
     2 (lb en aerospace) for a usually rocket-powered, predominantly
  non-glide projectile or aerial vehicle, such as a ballistic missile, to
  travel to its target partly via unpowered ballistic or quasi-ballistic
  flight, usually following burnout of its rocket motor
     3 (lb en military slang) for a powered, usually guided missile or
  other aerial vehicle to travel on an unguided or ballistic trajectory,
  having lost power, control or guidance

  go ballistic
     vb.
     1 (lb en idiomatic) To become very angry and irrational.
     2 (lb en aerospace) for a usually rocket-powered, predominantly
  non-glide projectile or aerial vehicle, such as a ballistic missile, to
  travel to its target partly via unpowered ballistic or quasi-ballistic
  flight, usually following burnout of its rocket motor
     3 (lb en military slang) for a powered, usually guided missile or
  other aerial vehicle to travel on an unguided or ballistic trajectory,
  having lost power, control or guidance

  go ballistic
     vb.
     1 (lb en idiomatic) To become very angry and irrational.
     2 (lb en aerospace) for a usually rocket-powered, predominantly
  non-glide projectile or aerial vehicle, such as a ballistic missile, to
  travel to its target partly via unpowered ballistic or quasi-ballistic
  flight, usually following burnout of its rocket motor
     3 (lb en military slang) for a powered, usually guided missile or
  other aerial vehicle to travel on an unguided or ballistic trajectory,
  having lost power, control or guidance

  go ballistic
     vb.
     1 (lb en idiomatic) To become very angry and irrational.
     2 (lb en aerospace) for a usually rocket-powered, predominantly
  non-glide projectile or aerial vehicle, such as a ballistic missile, to
  travel to its target partly via unpowered ballistic or quasi-ballistic
  flight, usually following burnout of its rocket motor
     3 (lb en military slang) for a powered, usually guided missile or
  other aerial vehicle to travel on an unguided or ballistic trajectory,
  having lost power, control or guidance

  go ballistic /ɡˌəʊ bɐlˈɪstɪk/
  an die Decke gehen, die Wände hochgehen  [übtr.]
     Synonym: go through the roof