artillery

[ ahr-til-uh-ree ]
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noun
  1. mounted projectile-firing guns or missile launchers, mobile or stationary, light or heavy, as distinguished from small arms.

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

  1. the science that treats of the use of such weapons.

Origin of artillery

1
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 artart1, 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

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How to use artillery in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for artillery

artillery

/ (ɑːˈtɪlərɪ) /


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

  2. troops or military units specializing in using such guns

  1. the science dealing with the use of guns

  2. devices for discharging heavy missiles, such as catapults or slings

Origin of artillery

1
C14: from Old French artillerie, from artillier to equip with weapons, of uncertain origin

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