strafe
Americanverb (used with object)
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to attack (ground troops or installations) by airplanes with machine-gun fire.
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Slang. to reprimand viciously.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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to machine-gun (troops, etc) from the air
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slang to punish harshly
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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strafesimple
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strafessimple
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have strafedperfect
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has strafedperfect
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am strafingprogressive
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are strafingprogressive
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is strafingprogressive
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have been strafingperfect progressive
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has been strafingperfect progressive
Past
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strafedsimple
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had strafedperfect
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was strafingprogressive
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were strafingprogressive
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had been strafingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of strafe
First recorded in 1910–15; from German strafen “to punish”
Explanation
To strafe is to attack from above with bullets or bombs. During World War I, planes fitted with machine guns flew low so they could strafe targets below. Think of a quick-firing machine gun or rapid series of bombs to understand the military verb strafe. This technique made it possible to mount deadly attacks on the enemy, provided that planes could fly at very low altitudes. Technology improvements by World War II meant that pilots of these planes were better protected in cockpits. The word strafe comes from a German catchphrase used during World War I, Gott strafe England, "may God punish England."
Vocabulary lists containing strafe
Unbroken
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This Week In Culture: September 28–October 4, 2019
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Most Dangerous
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I wad as sune lippen to the dottle o' a pipe amo' dry strae.
From Malcolm by MacDonald, George
Tak' a guid sweep wi' the scythe, 'at ye may hae the weicht o't to ca' through the strae, an' tak' nae shame at bein' hindmost.
From David Elginbrod by MacDonald, George
That's a puir supper for the stamach o' an unweel cratur; an' I've a' my doots if she's no at this moment confined to her strae bed.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Vol. XX by Leighton, Alexander
Fye, gae rub her, rub her, rub her, Fye, gae rub her o’er wi’ strae: An’ gin ye meet dirty hizzie, Fye, gae rub her o’er wi’ strae.”
From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert
And I'm ower failed to tak a helpmate, though Wylie Mactrickit the writer was very pressing, and spak very civilly; but I 'm ower auld a cat to draw that strae before me.
From Old Mortality, Volume 2. by Scott, Walter, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
