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]