Etymology of the English word catapult
the English word
catapultderived from the Latin word
catapulta (catapult, an engine which shot large arrow, bolt)
derived from the Greek word
katapeltesderived from the Greek word
pallein, πάλλειν, πάλλω
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*pāl-using the Greek prefix
kata-, κατα-
derived from the Greek word
kata, κατά (down)
Date
The earliest known usage of catapult in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
cataplaneCognates
Dutch
katapult, French
catapulte, German
Katapult, Norwegian
katapult, Swedish
katapultUsage
Word found in Modern English
