bazooka

American  

[buh-zoo-kuh] / bəˈzu kə /

noun

Military.

1. a tube-shaped, portable rocket launcher that fires a rocket capable of penetrating several inches of armor plate, as of a tank or other armored military vehicle.

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bazooka British  

/ bəˈzuːkə /

noun

1. a portable tubular rocket-launcher that fires a projectile capable of piercing armour: used by infantrymen as a short-range antitank weapon

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Etymology

Origin of bazooka

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35; from its resemblance to a musical instrument so named, invented and played by comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s and 1940s

Example Sentences

They may now decide there is no longer a need to ramp up the rhetoric around counter-tariffs and on rolling out the EU's "trade bazooka".

From BBC

The real purpose of the bazooka is to bring other countries to the negotiating table.

From BBC

Referred to as a "bazooka" or "nuclear" option, the instrument is intended to deter economic coercion against any of the EU's 27 member states.

From Barron's

Germany and France are among the nations raising the specter of a never-before-deployed tool—often dubbed the bazooka—that allows the EU to fight back when under economic coercion from another country.

From The Wall Street Journal

In crisis talks Sunday, EU ambassadors also discussed using a never-before-deployed tool—often dubbed the bazooka—that allows them to fight back when under economic duress from another country.

From The Wall Street Journal

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