firebase

American  

[fahyuhr-beys] / ˈfaɪərˌbeɪs /

noun

Military.

1. an artillery base, especially one set up quickly to support advancing troops or to forestall enemy advances.

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firebase British  

/ ˈfaɪəˌbeɪs /

noun

1. an artillery base supporting advancing troops

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Etymology

Origin of firebase

First recorded in 1965–70; fire + base ¹

Example Sentences

Flying into a remote US-manned firebase in the mountainous Paktika province in a Blackhawk helicopter, my BBC crew and I were told cheerfully: "You've come to the worst place in the world".

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

In 1970, it was decided — “by vainglorious minds, smaller than mine,” Tim wrote — to reopen a long abandoned Marine firebase in the heart of the A Shau Valley, near the border with Laos.

From Washington Post • Aug. 17, 2022

Venturing out to a pesh merga firebase on the forward front line, he climbed the parapet to train his binoculars on a village, perhaps 700 or 800 yards away down the hillside.

From New York Times • Aug. 10, 2016

One morning in the latter part of March, Task Force Barker moved out from its firebase headed for “Pinkville.”

From Time • Mar. 16, 2015

On Thursday his special-forces unit was on patrol with Afghan militia near the isolated mud-brick village of Spera, about 25 miles southwest of the nearest U.S. firebase, at Khost.

From Time Magazine Archive