catapult

A catapult is a device that launches projectiles by storing energy and releasing it rapidly. In classical siege warfare, catapults hurled stones, darts, or incendiaries at enemy fortifications and troops, using mechanisms designed to transfer stored energy into a high-velocity projectile.

The term covers several mechanisms. Torsion-powered engines, including mangonels, onagers, and ballistae, rely on twisted cords or sinew to store energy that is released to drive a throwing arm or sling. Counterweight engines such as the trebuchet use a heavy weight to generate the throwing force. Although trebuchets are technically a distinct mechanism, they are often described within the broader family of catapults in historical writing.

Historically, catapults were developed and employed by ancient Greeks and Romans and remained central to medieval siegecraft in Europe and the Middle East. They varied widely in size, range, and reliability. Torsion engines were generally compact and quick to reload, while counterweight trebuchets could hurl heavier missiles over longer distances but required more time to construct and maintain. The spread of gunpowder and cannon in the late medieval period reduced their military prominence.

Today, catapult-like devices persist in demonstrations, education, and media as cinematic or theatrical props. The term also survives in aviation, where a catapult launch refers to accelerating an aircraft to takeoff speed on a carrier deck. In general usage, catapult means to launch or propel something suddenly and forcefully.