catapult
カタパルト
解説 Definition
catapult は、物を遠くへ投げ飛ばすための装置を指す名詞です。古代の投石機のほか、航空機を発射する装置や、比喩的に何かを急に押し上げる力を表す場合にも使われます。
A catapult is a device that throws or launches something with great force, such as an ancient machine for hurling stones or a system for launching aircraft. Figuratively, it can be a force or event that rapidly advances someone or something.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
古代の「石を遠くへ放つ投石機」を中心像にし、空母の aircraft catapult、比喩の a catapult for her career へ広げます。動詞なら catapult A into fame のように「Aを一気に押し上げる」ですが、ここでは発射力を生む装置・きっかけを指す名詞です。
Begin with the concrete image of an ancient machine hurling a stone over a wall. The same idea of a powerful, sudden launch explains an aircraft carrier’s catapult. From there, the noun can be extended figuratively: an award may act as a catapult for a career by pushing it forward very quickly. Keep the collocations “a powerful catapult,” “an aircraft catapult,” and “a catapult for a career” together. Unlike a launcher, which is a broad term for many launching devices, catapult strongly suggests forceful and rapid projection.
例文
The ancient army used a catapult to throw stones at the wall.
古代の軍隊はカタパルトを使って城壁に石を投げつけた。
The aircraft carrier launched the plane with a powerful catapult.
その空母は強力なカタパルトで飛行機を発進させた。
The award acted as a catapult for her career.
その賞は彼女のキャリアを一気に押し上げるきっかけとなった。
catapult の類義語・関連語
紛らわしい語
catapult の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ギリシャ語kata（下へ）＋pallein（投げる）に由来し、ラテン語経由で英語へ定着しました。「強く投げ下ろす」語源が、投石機や発射装置という名の由来です。同源のpropel（推進する）やexpel（追放する）と比べれば、「勢いよく放つ」原義が納得できます。
English catapult came through Latin catapulta from Greek katapeltēs, the name of a missile-throwing engine. The Greek formation is traditionally connected with kata, conveying a downward or against direction, and pallein, “to hurl.” The word first named an ancient military engine, then expanded to devices that launch objects or aircraft, and finally developed the figurative sense of something that propels a person or project forward suddenly.
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