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 aircraft. • verb 1 hurl or launch with or as if with a catapult. 2 move suddenly or at great speed. — ORIGIN Latin catapulta, from Greek kata- ‘down’ + pallein ‘hurl’.
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