bombardier

[ bom-ber-deer, -buh- ]

/ ˌbɒm bərˈdɪər, -bə- /

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See synonyms for bombardier on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

From Middle French, dating back to 1550–60; see origin at bombard, -ier²

Words nearby bombardier

bomb, bombacaceous, bombard, bombarde, bombarded, bombardier, bombardier beetle, bombardment, bombardon, bombast, bombastic

Other definitions for bombardier (2 of 2)

Bombardier

[ bom-ber-deer, -buh-, bom-bahr-dyey ]

/ ˌbɒm bərˈdɪər, -bə-, ˌbɒm bɑrˈdyeɪ /

Trademark, Canadian.

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.

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. 2022

How to use bombardier in a sentence

Dutch engineer Carl Norden’s invention of a bombsight that could supposedly enable a bombardier to drop a missile into a pickle barrel from six miles up had made precision bombing possible.
Wrestling with the strategy — and morality — of the firebombing of Japan|Diana Preston|April 23, 2021|Washington Post
Neither, staring through his bombsight, could bombardier Umphress.
The Story of the American Journalists Who Landed on D-Day|Timothy M. Gay|June 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As a bombardier Yossarian is “the best man in the group at evasive action.”
The Catch in “Catch-22”|Morris Dickstein|September 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The Canadian-built Bombardier Q400 turbo-prop had an automatic stall-protection system.
The Year of Flying Dangerously|Clive Irving|December 23, 2009|DAILY BEAST

It was a different type of plane, a European-built ATR-72 (the Bombardier is a Canadian plane).
Behind the Buffalo Crash|Clive Irving|February 13, 2009|DAILY BEAST
They were crouching in one of the gun-pits—a bombardier and three gunners, very cold and very miserable.
Servants of the Guns|Jeffery E. Jeffery
Fig. 508 presents Calosoma sycophanta pursuing a Bombardier (Brachinus explodens), which squirts out a vapour of pungent odour.
The Insect World|Louis Figuier
Bombardier Havelock was wounded in the thigh by fragments of shell.
Lest We Forget|John Gilbert Thompson
Pickersdyke swore as he had not done since he was a rough-riding bombardier.
Servants of the Guns|Jeffery E. Jeffery
He had made himself one moment of leisure, and visited Bombardier Lane, but without result.
The Thin Red Line; and Blue Blood|Arthur Griffiths

British Dictionary definitions for bombardier (1 of 2)

bombardier

/ (ˌbɒmbəˈdɪə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for bombardier

C16: from Old French: one directing a bombard; see bombard

British Dictionary definitions for bombardier (2 of 2)

Bombardier

/ (ˌbɒmbəˈdɪə) /

noun

trademark Canadian a snow tractor, typically having caterpillar tracks at the rear and skis at the front

Word Origin for Bombardier

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