catapult
cata·pult [catapult catapults catapulted catapulting] noun, verb BrE [ˈkætəpʌlt] NAmE [ˈkætəpʌlt]
noun 
1. (BrE) (NAmE sling·shot)a stick shaped like a Y with a rubber band attached to it, used by children for shooting stones
2. a weapon used in the past to throw heavy stones
3. a machine used for sending planes up into the air from a ship
Word Origin:
late 16th cent.: from French catapulte or Latin catapulta, from Greek katapeltēs, from kata- ‘down’ + pallein ‘hurl’.
verb transitive, intransitive
to throw sb/sth or be thrown suddenly and violently through the air
•~ (sb/sth) + adv./prep. She was catapulted out of the car as it hit the wall.
• (figurative)The movie catapulted him to international stardom.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
late 16th cent.: from French catapulte or Latin catapulta, from Greek katapeltēs, from kata- ‘down’ + pallein ‘hurl’.
See also: ↑slingshot
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