catapult

noun

1. an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.
2. a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.
3. British. a slingshot.

verb (used with object)

4. to hurl from a catapult.
5. to thrust or move quickly or suddenly: His brilliant performance in the play catapulted him to stardom.
6. British.
   1. to hurl (a missile) from a slingshot.
   2. to hit (an object) with a missile from a slingshot.

verb (used without object)

7. to be catapulted.
8. to move or spring up suddenly, quickly, or forcibly, as if by means of a catapult: The car catapulted down the highway. When he heard the alarm he catapulted out of bed.

noun

1. a Y-shaped implement with a loop of elastic fastened to the ends of the two prongs, used mainly by children for shooting small stones, etcUS and Canadian name: slingshot
2. a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc
3. a device installed in warships to launch aircraft

verb

4. (tr) to shoot forth from or as if from a catapult
5. (foll by over, into, etc) to move precipitatelyshe was catapulted to stardom overnight

n.

1570s, from Middle French catapulte and directly from Latin catapulta “war machine for throwing,” from Greek katapeltes, from kata “against” (see cata-) + base of pallein “to toss, hurl” (see pulse (n.1)). As an airplane-launching device on an aircraft-carrier by 1927.

v.

1848, “to throw with a catapult,” from catapult (n.). Intransitive sense by 1928. Related: Catapulted; catapulting.