Mills grenade

American  

noun

Military.

1. a type of high-explosive grenade weighing about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kilogram).

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Etymology

Origin of Mills grenade

First recorded in 1915–20; named after Sir W. Mills (1856–1932), its English inventor

Example Sentences

The Mills grenade had just made its appearance, and was regarded as a special reserve of power in case of an enemy attack.

From The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force, 1915-19, Vol. I Egypt, Gallipoli, Lemnos Island, Sinai Peninsula by Collett, Herbert Brayley

My own task was to train as many men as possible in the use of the Mills grenade.

From Q.6.a and Other places Recollections of 1916, 1917 and 1918 by Buckley, Francis

Without a moment's hesitation, Briggs hurled a Mills grenade straight through the loophole, and, forgetting for the moment that others of his troop were not with him, uttered a wild screech!

From The Boy Allies with Haig in Flanders Or, the Fighting Canadians of Vimy Ridge by Hayes, Clair W. (Clair Wallace)

He approached, handling the weapon with a caution that would have been excessive for a Mills grenade; after warning Rand again that it was loaded, he laid it gently on his desk.

From Murder in the Gunroom by Piper, H. Beam

The first thing was to give a lecture to the men, explaining the nature of the Mills grenade and the proper way to hold it and throw it.

From Q.6.a and Other places Recollections of 1916, 1917 and 1918 by Buckley, Francis