shrapnel
[ shrap-nl ]
/ ˈʃræp nl /
noun
Military.
- 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.
- such projectiles collectively.
shell fragments.
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What does "scattergood" mean?
a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of shrapnel
1800–10; named after Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, its inventor
Words nearby shrapnel
shpt, shpt., shr., shraddha, shrank, shrapnel, shreadhead, shred, shredded wheat, shredder, shredding
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for shrapnel
British Dictionary definitions for shrapnel
shrapnel
/ (ˈʃræpnəl) /
noun
- a projectile containing a number of small pellets or bullets exploded before impact
- such projectiles collectively
fragments from this or any other type of shell
Word Origin for shrapnel
C19: named after H. Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, who invented it
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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