catapult

Meanings

Noun

• A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects.
• A mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.
• A slingshot.
• An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.
• An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

Verb

• To fire a missile from a catapult.
• To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.
• To increase the status of something rapidly.
• To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.
• To have one's status increased rapidly.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• steam catapult
• torsion catapult
• trebuchet

Origin

• From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης, from κατά + πάλλω.