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

"My other son was hit in the head by shrapnel and in his arm, and I was hit in my right leg."

From BBC

The latest, a nurse who died of shrapnel injuries from an Israeli air strike near his tent in September.

From BBC

Also across his torso are the scars from 47 pieces of shrapnel, he tells us.

From BBC

That was particularly timely, because only a day later her vehicle was damaged by Russian shrapnel when it was parked in a street in the coastal city of Odesa.

From BBC

But the back wall of Dmytro's house still has chunks torn out of it by shrapnel and the lawn was only just repaired where Russian troops had parked a tank.

From BBC

Related Words

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