ack-ack

Or Ack-Ack

[ak-ak]

noun

Informal.

1. antiaircraft fire.

2. antiaircraft arms.

ack-ack

/ ˈækˌæk /

noun

1. 1. anti-aircraft fire

   2. ( as modifier )

      ack-ack guns

2. anti-aircraft arms

Word History and Origins

Origin of ack-ack¹

1935–40; for A.A. (abbreviation of a(nti) a(ircraft) ) as said by British signalmen referring to sense 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of ack-ack¹

C20: British army World War I phonetic alphabet for AA, abbreviation of anti-aircraft

Example Sentences

“The surface vessels were throwing up a tremendous barrage of ack-ack fire.”

Read more on New York Times

More recent history lies in the second world war ack-ack gun emplacements, still in good shape, but more and more engulfed by the vegetation every year.

Read more on The Guardian

Beyond the ack-ack, they heard artillery fire, their own, some way further to the west.

Read more on Literature

The ack-ack guns make so much noise you can’t hear your own voice.

Read more on Literature

Atkinson beautifully conjures London under siege, with the blackout and the bombing and the “ack-ack guns being assembled” in Hyde Park.

Read more on New York Times