■ noun
1》 chiefly Brit. a forked stick with an elastic band fastened to the two prongs, used for shooting small stones.
2》 historical a machine worked by a lever and ropes for hurling large stones or other missiles.
3》 a mechanical device for launching a glider or aircraft.
■ verb hurl or launch with or as if with a ~.
↘move suddenly or at great speed.
Origin
C16: from Fr. ~e or L. ~a , from Gk katapeltēs , from kata- 'down' + pallein 'hurl'.