catapulted

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

v.

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

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.