petrol bomb

American  

noun

British.

1. Molotov cocktail.

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petrol bomb British  

noun

1. a home-made incendiary device, consisting of a bottle filled with petrol and stoppered with a wick, that is thrown by hand; Molotov cocktail

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verb

1. (tr) to attack with petrol bombs

Other Word Forms

• petrol bomber noun

Etymology

Origin of petrol bomb

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

But the cumulative effect of Irish jibes and "jokes about petrol bombs" provided just enough "friction" and "discomfort" to turn to music as a creative outlet.

From BBC

TV images showed gendarmes using tear gas and ravers throwing firecrackers, projectiles and petrol bombs as clashes broke out when around 400 police officers moved in an effort to disperse the party.

From Reuters

Conway was ultimately killed when a petrol bomb was thrown into his panda car.

From BBC

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said “riots” broke out Friday afternoon, following prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, involving hundreds of Palestinians who “threw rocks and petrol bombs at police officers.”

From Washington Post

“I know one thing will definitely kill Hong Kong, that’s people throwing petrol bombs on the streets everyday ... people will not come to invest,” said Wu.

From Reuters