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View synonyms for shrapnel

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. a projectile containing a number of small pellets or bullets exploded before impact
    2. such projectiles collectively
  1. fragments from this or any other type of shell


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Word History and Origins

Origin of shrapnel1

1800–10; named after Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, its inventor

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Word History and Origins

Origin of shrapnel1

C19: named after H. Shrapnel (1761–1842), English army officer, who invented it

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Example Sentences

Surrounded by his family under a shrapnel-damaged tin roof, he says he has lived in Al Shajaya all his life.

In this way the missile does not need pinpoint accuracy: widely spread supersonic shrapnel from the warhead is deadly.

In theory, someone could be relatively close to the explosion and survive since the shrapnel would zip by harmlessly overhead.

A couple weeks ago, I found a pea-sized shard of shrapnel from a past attack in a parking lot.

The new polio threat is a major and predictable consequence of war, just like shrapnel injuries and broken families.

Yesterday and to-day we have fired, for us, a terrible lot of shells (1,800 shrapnel) but never was shot better spent.

The flower of the insurgent army was there, well armed and supplied with artillery and shrapnel shell.

As that big oblong crowd of Turks showed their left flank to Baikie's nine batteries they were swept in enfilade by shrapnel.

You could see the shrapnel bursting on the ground, and perhaps setting fire to something or other.

On our way we had a near shave, for out of the darkness whizzed a shrapnel shell.

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