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.
That requires a Ph.D. from Georgetown, a fellowship at Brookings and prose so dense it could stop artillery.
From MarketWatch
The move comes after the U.S. agreed to sell Taiwan External link more than $11 billion in weapons, including missiles, artillery, and drones.
From Barron's
The move comes after the U.S. agreed to sell Taiwan External link more than $11 billion in weapons, including missiles, artillery, and drones.
From Barron's
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have estimated that the North sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024 -- primarily to the Kursk region -- along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.
From Barron's
South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have estimated that the North has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia, primarily to Kursk, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.
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.
