Catapult

Catapult, ancient military weapon used for hurling missiles. Some catapults were large crossbows, with a lethal range of over 400 yd (366 m), while others (ballistas) used giant levers to hurl boulders. In the Middle Ages catapults were an important part of siege artillery, but they were made obsolete by the cannon. A modern steam-powered version of the catapult launches jets from aircraft carriers.