bombardier
[bom-ber-deer, -buh-]
- Military. the member of a bombing plane crew who operates the bombsight and bomb-release mechanism.
- History/Historical. artilleryman.
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Origin of bombardier
Bombardier
[bom-ber-deer, -buh-, bom-bahr-dyey]
- a snowmobilelike vehicle driven by an internal-combustion engine, equipped with caterpillar tracks at the rear, steered by skis at the front, and designed for travel over snow.
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Origin of Bombardier
1945–50; after Canadian inventor and industrialist Armand Bombardier (died 1964), who designed it
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for bombardier
Contemporary Examples
Neither, staring through his bombsight, could bombardier Umphress.
As a bombardier Yossarian is “the best man in the group at evasive action.”
It was a different type of plane, a European-built ATR-72 (the Bombardier is a Canadian plane).
Historical Examples
One of the boys, a bombardier from a Fort, explained the workings of the camp.
A Yankee Flier Over BerlinAl Avery
His bombardier had laid their eggs squarely on a factory building.
A Yankee Flier Over BerlinAl Avery
I was in the same troop with him, a bombardier at the same gun.
Maurice Tiernay Soldier of FortuneCharles James Lever
I was second bombardier with him at Toulon,—ay, at Cairo too.
Tom Burke Of "Ours", Volume I (of II)Charles James Lever
Bombardier Bevignani or Marine Mancinelli might revel in it.
bombardier
- the member of a bomber aircrew responsible for aiming and releasing the bombs
- British a noncommissioned rank below the rank of sergeant in the Royal Artillery
- Also called: bombardier beetle any of various small carabid beetles of the genus Brachinus, esp B. crepitans of Europe, which defend themselves by ejecting a jet of volatile fluid
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Word Origin
C16: from Old French: one directing a bombard; see bombard
Bombardier
- trademark Canadian a snow tractor, typically having caterpillar tracks at the rear and skis at the front
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Word Origin
C20: named after J. A. Bombardier, Canadian inventor and manufacturer
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for bombardier
n.
1550s, soldier with a bombard, from French bombardier, from bombard (see bombard (n.)). In 17c.-18c. of soldiers who manned artillery (especially mortars and howitzers); meaning "one who aims the bombs in an aircraft" is attested 1932, American English.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper