Ballista vs. Catapult

Ballistanoun

An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

Ballistanoun

An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for hurling large missiles.

Ballistanoun

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

Ballista

The ballista (Latin, from Greek βαλλίστρα ballistra and that from βάλλω ballō, ), plural ballistae, sometimes called bolt thrower, was an ancient missile weapon that launched either bolts or stones at a distant target. Developed from earlier Greek weapons, it relied upon different mechanics, using two levers with torsion springs instead of a tension prod (the bow part of a modern crossbow).

Catapultnoun

A device or weapon for throwing or launching large objects, such as a mechanical aid on aircraft carriers designed to help airplanes take off from the flight deck.

Catapultnoun

(UK) slingshot

Catapultnoun

An instance of firing a missile from a catapult.

Catapultnoun

(figuratively) An instance of firing something, as if from a catapult.

Catapultverb

(transitive) To fire a missile from a catapult.

Catapultverb

(transitive) To fire or launch something, as if from a catapult.

Catapultverb

(transitive) To increase the status of something rapidly.

Catapultverb

(intransitive) To be fired from a catapult or as if from a catapult.

Catapultverb

(intransitive) To have one's status increased rapidly.

Catapultnoun

An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.

Catapultnoun

A forked stick with elastic band for throwing small stones, etc.

Catapultnoun

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

Catapultnoun

a device that launches aircraft from a warship

Catapultnoun

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

Catapultverb

shoot forth or launch, as if from a catapult;

Catapultverb

hurl as if with a sling

Catapult

A catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of gunpowder or other propellants – particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. A catapult uses the sudden release of stored potential energy to propel its payload.