artillery

[ahr-til-uh-ree]

noun

1. mounted projectile-firing guns or missile launchers, mobile or stationary, light or heavy, as distinguished from small arms.

2. the troops or the branch of an army concerned with the use and service of such weapons.

3. the science that treats of the use of such weapons.

artillery

/ ɑːˈtɪlərɪ /

noun

1. guns, cannon, howitzers, mortars, etc, of calibre greater than 20 mm

2. troops or military units specializing in using such guns

3. the science dealing with the use of guns

4. devices for discharging heavy missiles, such as catapults or slings

Word History and Origins

Origin of artillery¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of artillery¹

C14: from Old French artillerie, from artillier to equip with weapons, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

In Perth, Ben Stokes' team unleashed their heavy artillery to devastating and exhilarating effect.

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The culmination of a plan to bring heavy artillery down under resulted in this awesome and relentless assault on the Australia batting.

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A source at Gaza's Hamas-run interior ministry, who did not wish to be identified, said artillery fire was continuing in the Khan Yunis area.

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Luckily, the only other resident was a young artillery officer named Leo.

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And yet she had been the first English battleship to have gunports and to mount complete batteries of siege artillery—a really key ship in the development process at a time of rapid technological change.

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Related Words

• battery 
• cannon 
• ordnance