Minié ball

[ min-ee, min-ee-ey; French mee-nyey ]

/ ˈmɪn i, ˈmɪn iˌeɪ; French miˈnyeɪ /

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noun

a conical bullet with a hollow base that expanded when fired, used in the 19th century.

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Origin of Minié ball

1855–60; named after C. E. Minié (1814–79), French officer who invented it

Words nearby Minié ball

Minicoy Island, minicycle, minidisc, minidish, minidress, Minié ball, minify, Minigun, minikin, minilab, minilaparotomy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Minié ball in a sentence

Guelzo deftly sketches the leading personalities on both sides, yet also has time to describe the sound made by a Minie ball.
David's Book Club: Fateful Lightning|David Frum|January 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Presently a minie-ball came through the stove, and just grazed my head, and cut my hat.
Life On The Mississippi, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
During the day a minie ball struck the book and passing partly through, stopped at the 7th verse of the 52d chapter of Isiah.
Under the Stars and Bars|Walter A. Clark
Endeavouring to draw himself a little higher, a minie ball went through his shoulder.
The Long Roll|Mary Johnston

By the way, a minie ball knocks a hole in these fellows' celebrated jackets without the slightest difficulty.
Miss Ravenel's conversion from secession to loyalty|J. W. de Forest
He paused, picked up a pebble and threw it at a comrade's foot and laughed to see him jump as from a Minie ball.
The Southerner|Thomas Dixon

British Dictionary definitions for Minié ball

Minié ball

/ (ˈmɪnɪˌeɪ, French miɲe) /

noun

a conical rifle bullet, used in the 19th century, manufactured with a hollow base designed to expand when fired to fit the rifling

Word Origin for Minié ball

C19: named after Capt C. E. Minié (1814–1879), French army officer who invented it

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012