catapult

¹cat·a·pult

noun \ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt, -ˌpu̇lt\

Definition of CATAPULT

1

: an ancient military device for hurling missiles

2

: a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier)

Illustration of CATAPULT

Origin of CATAPULT

Middle French or Latin; Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Greek katapaltēs, from kata- + pallein to hurl

First Known Use: 1577

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

Rhymes with CATAPULT

cargo cult, difficult

²catapult

verb

Definition of CATAPULT

transitive verb

: to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult

intransitive verb

: to become catapulted <he catapulted to fame>

Examples of CATAPULT

1. They catapulted rocks toward the castle.
2. The publicity catapulted her CD to the top of the charts.
3. The novel catapulted him from unknown to best-selling author.
4. He catapulted to fame after his first book was published.
5. Her career was catapulting ahead.

First Known Use of CATAPULT

1848

Related to CATAPULT

Synonyms

cast, throw, chuck, dash, fire, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, lob, loft, peg, pelt, pitch, sling, toss

Related Words

bowl, dart, flip, gun, hook, pass, roll, shoot; buck, eject, impel, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, thrust

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

catapult

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mechanism for forcefully propelling stones, spears, or other projectiles, in use since ancient times. Nearly all catapults employed in ancient and medieval artillery operated by a sudden release of tension on wooden beams or twisted cords of horsehair, gut, sinew, or other fibres. An exception was the medieval trebuchet, powered by a counterweight. Modern mechanisms using steam, hydraulic pressure, tension, or other force to launch gliders, aircraft, or missiles are also called catapults.