artillery
Americannoun
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mounted projectile-firing guns or missile launchers, mobile or stationary, light or heavy, as distinguished from small arms.
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the troops or the branch of an army concerned with the use and service of such weapons.
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the science that treats of the use of such weapons.
noun
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guns, cannon, howitzers, mortars, etc, of calibre greater than 20 mm
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troops or military units specializing in using such guns
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the science dealing with the use of guns
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devices for discharging heavy missiles, such as catapults or slings
Etymology
Origin of artillery
1350–1400; Middle English artil ( le ) rie, artelry, art ( u ) ry armaments, ballistic engines < Anglo-French, Middle French artillerie, equivalent to Old French artill ( ier ) to equip, arm, alteration, by association with art art 1, of atill ( i ) er to set in order, put on armor (< Vulgar Latin *apticulāre, derivative of Latin aptāre to put on (armor, ornaments, etc.; adapt ); -i- for expected -ei- perhaps by association with atirier; attire ) + -erie -ery
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Inside the house Leah heard, “a dreadful sound … as if a heavy piece of artillery had been discharged …” Leah rushed outside and found the girls sitting quietly.
From Literature
Eastern Ukraine used to feel like a throwback to the Western Front in World War One, with trenches and dugouts reinforced against artillery and snipers.
From BBC
The thin ranks of its infantry rely on explosive drones and artillery to hold Russian advances back.
The British Army today numbers about 72,000 with a limited supply of tanks and large artillery pieces.
Heavy pieces of artillery, as well as sluggish tanks and armoured vehicles, are too slow and visible -- making them easy targets for both sides.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
