CATAPULT

Catapult

A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during warfare. The word 'catapult' comes from the Latin 'catapulta', which in turn comes from the Greek καταπέλτης, itself from, "downwards" + πάλλω, "to toss, to hurl". Catapults were invented by the ancient Greeks.

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catapult

Noun

  1. A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects, such as a mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.
  2. slingshot
  3. An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.
  4. An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

Verb

  1. To fire a missile from a catapult.
  2. To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.
  3. To increase the status of something rapidly.
    The candidate selection for running mate has catapulted her to the national scene.
  4. To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.
  5. To have one's status increased rapidly.
    She catapulted to the national scene following her selection by the candidate.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: catapult
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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