Forms: 6 catapelt, -pulte, 6– catapulta (only in sense 1), 7– catapult. [a. F. catapulte or L. catapulta, a. Gr. καταπέλτης catapult, prob. f. κατά gainst + πάλλειν to hurl, cast, poise (a missile).]
1. An ancient military engine for discharging darts, stones, or other missiles; the motive power being obtained by a strong lever working on an axis, which was tightly strained with twisted ropes and suddenly released.
The ballista and catapulta were originally distinct, the former being used for throwing stones, etc., and the latter for darts; but afterwards the names were used synonymously.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 495. The great hollow catapelts which shoote the darts from aloft.
1599. Thynne, Animadv. (1875), 41. The Ramme … farr different in forme from the magonell or catapulte.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1657), 206. When a Catapult was first seen at Lacedemon, Archimedes exclaimed: O Hercules, now manhood is come to an end.
1732. Lediard, Sethos, II. IX. 277. Catapulta’s and battering rams.
1761. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, III. xxiv. May my brains be knock’d out by a … catapulta.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, VIII. 533. The catapults Drove there their dreadful darts.
1829. W. Irving, Granada (1850), 338. The mangled body of the Moor was … thrown into the City from a catapult.
1850. ‘Bat,’ Cricketer’s Manual, 49. By the application of the Catapulta to peaceful purposes, the batting has been … improved.
1878. B. Smith, Carthage, 392. The Matrons cut off their long hair and twisted it into ropes for the catapults.
2. An instrument consisting of a forked stick with an elastic band fastened to the two prongs, used to shoot small stones, bullets, peas, etc.
1870. ‘A. R. Hope,’ My Schoolboy Friends, 227. They [holes] seem to have been made by a crossbow or a catapult.
1887. Manch. Guard., 7 May, 9. He … shot the bird with a catapult.
Mod. The police have orders to seize all catapults.
Hence Catapultic a., Catapultier, one who works a catapult (cf. fusilier, etc.).
1828. Hull Packet, 24 June, 4/3. Phil Fogarty’s catapultic bludgeon spurning resistance, smashes down a passage.
1831. J. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., XXIX. 306. Balls are showered upon them … from a hundred catapultic arms.
1859. Helps, Friends in C., Ser. II. I. ii. 146. Flinging the ball with catapultic force.
1860. Reade, Cloister & H., xliii. (D.). The besiegers … sent forward their sappers, pioneers, catapultiers, and crossbowmen.
