bombardier

[bom-ber-deer, -buh-]

SEE MORE 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.

Origin of bombardier

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

Bombardier

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

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for bombardier

Contemporary Examples of bombardier

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
As a bombardier Yossarian is “the best man in the group at evasive action.”
The Catch in “Catch-22”
Morris Dickstein
September 4, 2011
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

Historical Examples of bombardier

One of the boys, a bombardier from a Fort, explained the workings of the camp.
A Yankee Flier Over Berlin
Al Avery
His bombardier had laid their eggs squarely on a factory building.
A Yankee Flier Over Berlin
Al Avery
I was in the same troop with him, a bombardier at the same gun.
Maurice Tiernay Soldier of Fortune
Charles 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.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 109, July 27, 1895
Various

British Dictionary definitions for bombardier

bombardier

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

Bombardier

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

Word Origin and History for bombardier

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.