Meaning

noun a plaything consisting of a Y-shaped stick with elastic between the arms; used to propel small stones

noun a device that launches aircraft from a warship

noun an engine that provided medieval artillery used during sieges; a heavy war engine for hurling large stones and other missiles

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

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0