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

Example Sentences

A second group worked to locate the lost thermonuclear bomb, called a “broken arrow” in Defense Department terms.

From The Daily Beast

The sculptured figure is in a lying position, and a broken arrow or spear is in its side.

From Project Gutenberg

And there on a trestle table before us lay the body of Jarl Lodbrok, my friend, in whose side was my broken arrow.

From Project Gutenberg

A broken arrow, pointing in any direction indicated, danger.

From Project Gutenberg

Not knowing what she did, she pulled the broken arrow from his arm, and then screamed to think of where it had been.

From Project Gutenberg

In an earth-hut another detachment had found some smoked fish, a broken arrow, the remains of a fire, and several other things.

From Project Gutenberg