The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

launcher \launcher\ n.
   1. a device capable of launching a rocket.

   Syn: rocket launcher.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   2. A device which launches aircraft from an aircraft carrier;
      -- it provides additional velocity to the airplane, to
      supplement that from the airplane's engines, so that the
      airplane rapidly achieves a velocity sufficient to sustain
      it in flight when taking off.

   Syn: catapult.
        [WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

launcher
    n 1: armament in the form of a device capable of launching a
         rocket [syn: launcher, rocket launcher]
    2: a device that launches aircraft from a warship [syn:
       catapult, launcher]