artillery

[ahr-til-uh-ree] /ɑrˈtɪl ə ri/

noun

mounted projectile-firing guns or missile launchers, mobile or stationary, light or heavy, as distinguished from small arms.

the troops or the branch of an army concerned with the use and service of such weapons.

the science that treats of the use of such weapons.

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English artil(le)rie, artelry, art(u)ry armaments, ballistic engines < Anglo-French, Middle French artillerie, equivalent to Old French artill(ier) to equip, arm, alteration, by association with art art¹, of atill(i)er to set in order, put on armor (< Vulgar Latin *apticulāre, derivative of Latin aptāre to put on (armor, ornaments, etc.; see adapt); -i- for expected -ei- perhaps by association with atirier; see attire) + -erie -ery

Examples from the web for artillery

They have advance warning of raids and all main leaders, artillery and military hardware is relocated in advance.
The government, flush with money from oil exports, attacked with planes and artillery.
Such correction tables would be relatively simpler than similar tables used in artillery and naval practice.
Entire buildings are being shelled with heavy artillery.
artillery pieces were hauled to the quayside to ensure things went off with a bang.
Immune to the sting, the slugs deploy the stolen artillery along their own extremities.
It is the concussions of artillery shells that shatter eardrums.
Some told harrowing tales of their confinement for weeks under heavy artillery fire.
The army countered with helicopter gunships and artillery.
Except for the occasional desultory exchange of tank and artillery fire, everything seems asleep.

British Dictionary definitions for artillery

artillery

/ɑːˈtɪlərɪ/

noun

guns, cannon, howitzers, mortars, etc, of calibre greater than 20 mm

troops or military units specializing in using such guns

the science dealing with the use of guns

devices for discharging heavy missiles, such as catapults or slings

Word Origin

C14: from Old French artillerie, from artillier to equip with weapons, of uncertain origin

Word Origin and History for artillery

late 14c., "warlike munitions," from Anglo-French artillerie, Old French artillerie (14c.), from artillier "to provide with engines of war" (13c.), which probably is from Medieval Latin articulum "art, skill," diminutive of Latin ars (genitive artis) "art." But some would connect it with Latin articulum "joint," and still others with Old French atillier "to equip," altered by influence of arte. Sense of "engines for discharging missiles" (catapults, slings, bows, etc.) is from late 15c.; that of "ordnance, large guns" is from 1530s.

Slang definitions & phrases for artillery

artillery

noun

A weapon or weapons, esp a handgun carried by a criminal; heat (1900s+ Underworld)
A drug user's hypodermic syringe

Related Terms

heavy artillery

artillery in the Bible

1 Sam. 20:40, (Heb. keli, meaning "apparatus;" here meaning collectively any missile weapons, as arrows and lances. In Revised Version, "weapons"). This word is derived from the Latin artillaria = equipment of war.