What is "catapulted"

Usage examples of "catapulted".

In fact, the little white hen catapulted halfway across the yard, feathers flying like the sparks from a comet, before gaining control of its wildly napping wings and coming to an upright halt: then, clucking terri-fiedly, it ran away.

More than anything in the world, Colonel Ness wanted to return home to Car-lion, to be with his wife and to forget about this worthless town that fate had catapulted into importance.