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war cry

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noun

a cry, word, phrase, etc., shouted in charging or in rallying to attack; battle cry.
a slogan, phrase, or motto used to unite a political party, rally support for a cause, etc.

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Origin of war cry

First recorded in 1740–50
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for war cry

Historical Examples of war cry

  • Its first war-cry was stifled back by the brutal and cowardly hand of Destiny.

    My Double Life

    Sarah Bernhardt

  • He not come from tent at night, unless the war-cry call him.

    The Fiery Totem

    Argyll Saxby

  • You can't get up in the midst of dinner and give a war-cry to prove you're a big chief.

    The Prisoner

    Alice Brown

  • "That's no a sang, that's the war-cry of the Manhattas," said Sandy, gravely.

  • Every Indian in camp started up as if hostiles had uttered their war-cry.

British Dictionary definitions for war cry

war cry

noun

a rallying cry used by combatants in battle
a cry, slogan, etc, used to rally support for a cause
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