Main Entry:

¹cat·a·pult

Pronunciation:

\ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt, -ˌpu̇lt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

1577

1 : an ancient military device for hurling missiles 2 : a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier)

[catapult illustration]