catapult English · revision 1596

13 Oct 2026, 08:23 by bogdan “New entry from dictionary sources” current version
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈkæ.tə.pʌlt/^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[bor|frm|catapulte]] and [[la|catapulta|t=war machine for throwing]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|grc|καταπέλτης|tr=katapéltēs]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) an alteration of earlier ''katapáltēs'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) from ''kata-'' “against” and ''pállein'' “to hurl”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ An ancient military engine for hurling darts, stones or other missiles (1577).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The Century Dictionary, quoted by Etymonline, notes that the exact construction of the ancient catapult is unknown and that later writers confused it with the [[ballista]].^(Etymonline) In British use the word was applied to a forked stick with an elastic band, the slingshot (1871),^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) and from 1927 to a device for launching aircraft.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb is from 1848,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and the intransitive sense of springing forward as if hurled is from 1928.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 1577 – an ancient engine for hurling missiles.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)
+ * 1848 – verb, to throw with a catapult.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)
+ * 1871 – a slingshot.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1927 – a device for launching aircraft.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+ * 1928 – intransitive, to spring as if hurled.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)
+ 
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # An ancient or [[medieval]] military machine for hurling stones, spears and other [[missile|alt=missiles]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A device for launching aircraft, as from the deck of an [[aircraft carrier]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(British)'' A [[slingshot]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ===Verb===
+ # To hurl or launch from or as if from a catapult.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # To move or spring forward suddenly, as to fame.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[catapultic]]
+ 
+ ==Usage notes==
+ Random House gives ''throw'', ''fling'', ''propel'', ''pitch'' and ''shoot'' as synonyms of the verb.^(RHWU)
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}