A catapulta was a Roman machine for throwing arrows and javelins,[1][2] 12 feet (3.7 m) or 15 feet (4.6 m) long, at the enemy.
The name comes from the Greek katapeltes (καταπέλτης), because it could pierce or 'go through' (kata) shields (peltas).
The design was probably inherited, along with the ballista, from Greek armies.
Smaller two-armed versions of the catapulta were known as scorpiones.
Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.).