Etymology dictionary. 2014.
catapult — ► NOUN 1) chiefly Brit. a forked stick with an elastic band fastened to the two prongs, used for shooting small stones. 2) historical a military machine for hurling large stones or other missiles. 3) a mechanical device for launching a glider or… … English terms dictionary
catapult — [kat′ə pult΄, kat′əpoolt΄] n. [L catapulta < Gr katapeltēs < kata , down, against + base of pallein, to toss, hurl] 1. an ancient military contrivance powered by either torsion or tension used for throwing or shooting stones, spears, etc. 2 … English World dictionary
Catapult — Cat a*pult, n. [L. catapulta, Gr. ?, prob. from kata down + ? to shake, hurl.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Mil. Antiq.) An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc. [1913 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
catapult — index cast (throw), impel, launch (project), precipitate (throw down violently) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
catapult — [n] implement for shooting weapon arbalest, ballista, heaver, hurler, pitcher, propeller, shooter, sling, slingshot, tosser, trebuchet; concepts 463,500 … New thesaurus
Catapult — A catapult is any one of a number of non handheld mechanical devices used to throw a projectile a great distance without the aid of an explosive substance particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines.The name is the Latinized… … Wikipedia
catapult — I UK [ˈkætəpʌlt] / US [ˈkætəˌpʌlt] noun [countable] Word forms catapult : singular catapult plural catapults 1) a) British an object that children use for firing stones. It consists of a stick in the shape of a Y with a thin band of rubber across … English dictionary
catapult — catapultic, adj. /kat euh pult , poolt /, n. 1. an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc. 2. a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship. 3. Brit. a slingshot. v.t. 4. to hurl from a catapult. 5. to thrust or move … Universalium
catapult — [[t]kæ̱təpʌlt[/t]] catapults, catapulting, catapulted 1) N COUNT A catapult is a device for shooting small stones. It is made of a Y shaped stick with a piece of elastic tied between the two top parts. [BRIT] (in AM, use slingshot) 2) N COUNT A… … English dictionary
catapult — /ˈkætəpʌlt / (say katuhpult) noun 1. an ancient military engine for hurling darts, stones, etc. 2. Also, shanghai, sling, slingshot; Chiefly WA and Qld, ging; North Coast NSW, gonk. a Y shaped stick or strong wire with an elastic strip between… …
