broadside

[brawd-sahyd]

noun

1. the whole side of a ship above the water line, from the bow to the quarter.

2. Navy.

   1. all the guns that can be fired from one side of a warship.

   2. a simultaneous discharge of all the guns on one side of a warship.

3. any strong or comprehensive attack, as by criticism.

4. Also called broadsheet. 

   1. a sheet of paper printed on one or both sides, as for distribution or posting.

   2. any printed advertising circular.

5. any broad surface or side, as of a house.

6. Also called broadside ballad. a song, chiefly in 16th- and 17th-century England, written on a topical subject, printed on broadsides, and sung in public, as on a street corner, by a professional balladeer.

adverb

1. with the side, especially with the broader side, facing toward a given point or object.

   The truck hit the fence broadside.

2. in a wide-ranging manner; at random.

   to attack the president's policies broadside.

verb (used without object)

broadsided, broadsiding 

1. to proceed or go broadside.

2. to fire a broadside or broadsides.

verb (used with object)

broadsided, broadsiding 

1. to collide with or run into the side of (a vehicle, object, person, etc.).

   We got broadsided on the freeway.

2. to make concerted verbal attacks on.

   The president was broadsided by the opposition.

broadside

/ ˈbrɔːdˌsaɪd /

noun

1. nautical the entire side of a vessel, from stem to stern and from waterline to rail

2. navy

   1. all the armament fired from one side of a warship

   2. the simultaneous discharge of such armament

3. a strong or abusive verbal or written attack

4. Also called: broadside ballad. a ballad or popular song printed on one side of a sheet of paper and sold by hawkers, esp in 16th-century England

5. any standard size of paper before cutting or folding

   demy broadside

6. another name for broadsheet

7. a large flat surface

   the broadside of the barn

adverb

1. with a broader side facing an object; sideways

   the train hit the lorry broadside

Word History and Origins

Origin of broadside¹

First recorded in 1565–75; broad + side ¹

Example Sentences

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday launched a broadside against such consumers, telling the weekly cabinet meeting that "sometimes it is the city-centre bourgeoisie that is funding the traffickers".

Read more on BBC

Cut into the vessel’s hull at the waterline, for the first time in history they allowed a warship to fire broadsides at an enemy.

Read more on Literature

Then came the statement from Desmond, reiterating this, while also launching a broadside at the former manager.

Read more on BBC

Musk, who had a rather messy departure from his official government role in May, is once again making waves with a social media broadside against another Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Read more on Salon

He has delivered expletive-laden broadsides against remote meetings, declaring that the only way to work is together, in person, the old-fashioned way.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• booklet 
• brochure 
• daily 
• journal 
• manual 
• newsletter 
• newspaper 
• pamphlet 
• paper 
• periodical 
• weekly