throw weight

American  

[throh weyt] / ˈθroʊ ˌweɪt /

Or throwweight

noun

1. the lifting power, or payload maximum, of a ballistic missile exclusive of the weight of the rocket itself, and including the weight of the warhead or warheads and of guidance and penetration systems; ballistic delivery power.

   larger Russian missiles with a throw weight of up to 20 megatons.

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throw weight British  

noun

1. the maximum weight of supplementary mechanisms that can be lifted by the boost stages of a particular missile

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throw-weight Cultural  

1. The size of the nuclear warhead or set of warheads that a missile, such as a ballistic missile, can carry. A nation might make up for the inaccuracy of its missiles by increasing their throw-weight.

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Etymology

Origin of throw weight

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

“This is a very tough and very emotional issue, so there’s some different points of view. I get it. But if you look at where the throw weight is, there is a significant bipartisan majority.”

From Washington Times

As long as there are enough amateur investors to throw weight around, they can decide whether a stock moves up or down.

From Slate

The book is another way to throw weight into sound.

From The New Yorker

“Members and staff understand the political throw weight of veterans’ groups based on their large membership and the degree to which they command public respect.”

From New York Times

During the Cold War, the U.S. and Russia often negotiated over throw weight, the payload that a missile carries—power over precision.

From The Wall Street Journal