catapult

Meanings

Noun

a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones
a device that launches aircraft from a warship
an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles
A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects.
A mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.
A slingshot.
An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.
An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

Verb

shoot forth or launch, as if from a catapult
- "the enemy catapulted rocks towards the fort"
hurl as if with a sling
To fire a missile from a catapult.
To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.
To increase the status of something rapidly.
To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.
To have one's status increased rapidly.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle French catapulte, from Latin catapulta, from Ancient Greek καταπέλτης (katapéltēs), from κατά (katá, “downwards, into, against”) + πάλλω (pállō, “I poise or sway a missile before it is thrown”). Doublet of catapulta.

Synonyms

arbalest, arbalist, ballista, bricole, launcher, mangonel, onager, sling, slingshot, trebuchet, trebucket

Scrabble Score: 12

catapult is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
catapult is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
catapult is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

catapult is a valid Words With Friends word