Catapulting
/ˈkæt.ə.pʌl.tɪŋ/ (the 'cat' is not a reference to any feline; researchers have asked)v. trans.Experimental
Etymology
from Gk. katapeltes (siege engine) + venture capital growth-hacking lexicon + one (1) ill-advised team offsite, Q3 2022
Definition
The act of launching a conclusion across a logical gap with tremendous force and minimal precision, relying on velocity alone to ensure it reaches the target. A well-executed Catapulting lands in the correct answer; a poorly executed one lands in the neighboring field, which belongs to someone else.
Diagram
[QUESTION] SOLUTION ZONE
│ ↑
│ ~~~~arc~~~~/
└──[CATAPULT]→
↑
[skipped steps here]Usage
"In 78% of observed trials, the model was Catapulting past intermediate reasoning steps, arriving at correct conclusions via what the lead researcher described as 'vibes, basically.'" - Okonkwo & Sharma, 'Ballistic Inference in Autoregressive Models', ICML 2025