nail bomb

American

noun

an explosive device packed with nails or similar metal objects that act as shrapnel.

nail bomb British

noun

an explosive device containing nails, used by terrorists to cause serious injuries in crowded situations

"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

Etymology

Origin of nail bomb

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But “Blackbird,” David Harrower’s 2005, Olivier Award-winning play, currently staged at 18th and Union by White Rabbits Inc., is a small, powerful, two-character nail bomb.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 13, 2019

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023