I. ˈka-tə-ˌpəlt, -ˌpu̇lt 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 1
]
II. verb
Date: 1848
transitive verb
: to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult
intransitive verb
: to become catapulted
he catapult ed to fame