shrapnel
[shrap-nl]
- 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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Origin of shrapnel
1800–10; named after Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, its inventor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for shrapnel
Contemporary Examples
In theory, someone could be relatively close to the explosion and survive since the shrapnel would zip by harmlessly overhead.
A couple weeks ago, I found a pea-sized shard of shrapnel from a past attack in a parking lot.
The new polio threat is a major and predictable consequence of war, just like shrapnel injuries and broken families.
U.N. Calls Middle East Polio Outbreak ‘Greatest Polio Challenge in History’Kent Sepkowitz
April 9, 2014
Shrapnel tore through the Airbus A380, causing severe damage.
I recall watching a corporal savaged by shrapnel struggle to survive.
Historical Examples
Oh for the good "Queen Bess," her high command, and her 15-inch shrapnel!
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2Ian Hamilton
How often have I felt anxious seeing these shrapnel through the telescope.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2Ian Hamilton
But the shrapnel got on to these fellows also and I lost sight of them.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2Ian Hamilton
When we got back to the Arno we found she had been hit by shrapnel, but no damage.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2Ian Hamilton
Then they came to grips and mentioned the cause of their injuries—bullet or shrapnel.
A Boswell of BaghdadE. V. Lucas
shrapnel
- 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
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Word Origin
C19: named after H. Shrapnel (1761–1842), English 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
Word Origin and History for shrapnel
n.
1806, from Gen. Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), who invented a type of exploding, fragmenting shell when he was a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery during the Peninsular War. The invention consisted of a hollow cannon ball, filled with shot, which burst in mid-air; his name for it was spherical case ammunition. Sense of "shell fragments" is first recorded 1940. The surname is attested from 13c., and is believed to be a metathesized form of Charbonnel, a diminutive form of Old French charbon "charcoal," in reference to complexion, hair color, or some other quality.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper