shrapnel

[ shrap-nl ]

noun

1. Military.
   1. a hollow projectile containing bullets or the like and a bursting charge, designed to explode before reaching the target, and to set free a shower of missiles.
   2. such projectiles collectively.
2. shell fragments.

shrapnel

/ ˈʃræpnəl /

noun

1. 1. a projectile containing a number of small pellets or bullets exploded before impact
   2. such projectiles collectively
2. fragments from this or any other type of shell

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrapnel¹

1800–10; named after Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, its inventor

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrapnel¹

C19: named after H. Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, who invented it

Example Sentences

If shrapnel or tank fire pierced the plastic water tank on the roof of the apartment building, we would have water to drink and cook with for a few days.

From Time

Other versions blew up during crash landings, and one exploded just before touching down — a series of Earth-shattering fireballs that turned the stainless-steel spacecraft into shrapnel.

From Washington Post

One deputy was shot dead, and a second was badly wounded by bomb shrapnel to his face and neck.

From ProPublica

After-effect analysis can let engineers know how much of the case was burnt in the blast, how much launched outward as shrapnel, and what sort of damage the blast caused.

From Popular-Science

Presently, classifying debris and shrapnel from deliberately set explosions is a massive, labor-intensive process.

From Popular-Science

Surrounded by his family under a shrapnel-damaged tin roof, he says he has lived in Al Shajaya all his life.

From The Daily Beast

In this way the missile does not need pinpoint accuracy: widely spread supersonic shrapnel from the warhead is deadly.

From The Daily Beast

In theory, someone could be relatively close to the explosion and survive since the shrapnel would zip by harmlessly overhead.

From The Daily Beast

A couple weeks ago, I found a pea-sized shard of shrapnel from a past attack in a parking lot.

From The Daily Beast

The new polio threat is a major and predictable consequence of war, just like shrapnel injuries and broken families.

From The Daily Beast

Yesterday and to-day we have fired, for us, a terrible lot of shells (1,800 shrapnel) but never was shot better spent.

From Project Gutenberg

The flower of the insurgent army was there, well armed and supplied with artillery and shrapnel shell.

From Project Gutenberg

As that big oblong crowd of Turks showed their left flank to Baikie's nine batteries they were swept in enfilade by shrapnel.

From Project Gutenberg

You could see the shrapnel bursting on the ground, and perhaps setting fire to something or other.

From Project Gutenberg

On our way we had a near shave, for out of the darkness whizzed a shrapnel shell.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ammo
• armament
• bomb
• bullet
• cartridge
• chemical
• explosive
• gunpowder
• materiel
• missile
• munition
• napalm
• rocket
• torpedo