c.1430 (n.), 1598 (v.), from Fr. bombarder, from bombarde "mortar, catapult," from bombe (see bomb). The same word, from the same source, was used c.1393 in reference to a bassoon-like musical instrument. Bombardier is first recorded 1560.
a large shawm; the bass member of the shawm family [syn: bombardon]
verb
1.
cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile; "They pelted each other with snowballs" [syn: pelt]
2.
throw bombs at or attack with bombs; "The Americans bombed Dresden"
3.
address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage; "The speaker was barraged by an angry audience"; "The governor was bombarded with requests to grant a pardon to the convicted killer"
Bom"bard\, n. [F. bombarde, LL. bombarda, fr. L. bombus + -ard. Cf. Bumper, and see Bomb.]1. (Gun.) A piece of heavy ordnance formerly used for throwing stones and other ponderous missiles. It was the earliest kind of cannon. They planted in divers places twelve great bombards, wherewith they threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city, might break down the houses. --Knolles. 2. A bombardment. [Poetic & R.] --J. Barlow. 3. A large drinking vessel or can, or a leather bottle, for carrying liquor or beer. [Obs.] Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. --Shak. 4. pl. Padded breeches. [Obs.] Bombard phrase, inflated language; bombast. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
Bom*bard"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bombarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bombarding.] To attack with bombards or with artillery; especially, to throw shells, hot shot, etc., at or into. Next, she means to bombard Naples. --Burke. His fleet bombarded and burnt down Dieppe. --Wood.
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Audio Help [v. bom-bahrd, buh
