[cat.a.pult] n [MF or L; MF catapulte, fr. L catapulta, fr. Gk katapaltes, fr. kata- + pallein to hurl] (1577) 1: an ancient military device for hurling missiles
2: a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier)
[2]catapult vt (1848): to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult ~ vi: to become catapulted