Broken Arrow

¹

Or bro·ken ar·row

[broh-kuhn ar-oh]

noun

U.S. Military.

1. 1. a nuclear weapon that has been removed from the arsenal by theft, loss, accidental launch or detonation, etc., but has not resulted in harm.

   2. the theft, accidental launch, or other event that causes such a weapon to be removed from the arsenal.

2. a code phrase summoning all military aircraft in the area to the immediate support of ground forces about to be overwhelmed.

Broken Arrow

²

[broh-kuhn ar-oh]

noun

1. a town in northeastern Oklahoma.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Broken Arrow¹

First recorded in 1960–65