bombard

¹bom·bard

noun \ˈbäm-ˌbärd\

Definition of BOMBARD

: a late medieval cannon used to hurl large stones

Origin of BOMBARD

Middle English bombarde, from Middle French, probably from Latin bombus

First Known Use: 15th century

Other History Terms

agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, fief, historiography, paladin

Rhymes with BOMBARD

Asgard, backyard, barnyard, blackguard, blowhard, boatyard, boneyard, brassard, brickyard, charge card, churchyard, cloth yard, coast guard, courtyard, dance card, deeryard, die-hard, diehard, discard, dockyard, dooryard, face card, farmyard, fireguard, flash card, foulard, Fugard, Gerard, graveyard, green card, ill-starred, jacquard, junkyard, lifeguard, main yard, mansard, mass card, Midgard, milliard, mudguard, noseguard, off guard, old guard, on guard, Oxnard, phone card, Picard, placard, point guard, postcard, poularde, punch card, rear guard, rearguard, Red Guard, regard, retard, ritard, safeguard, scorecard, shipyard, smart card, sound card, spikenard, steelyard, stockyard, switchyard, tabard, tanyard, tiltyard, time card, unbarred, unguard, vizard, wild card

²bom·bard

transitive verb \bäm-ˈbärd also bəm-\

Definition of BOMBARD

1

: to attack especially with artillery or bombers

2

: to assail vigorously or persistently (as with questions)

3

: to subject to the impact of rapidly moving particles (as electrons)

— bom·bard·ment \-mənt\ noun

Examples of BOMBARD

1. The navy bombarded the shore.
2. Scientists bombarded the sample with X-rays.
3. The car was bombarded by rocks as it drove away from the angry crowd.

First Known Use of BOMBARD

1686

Related to BOMBARD

Synonyms

batter, blitz, blitzkrieg, bomb, cannonade, shell

Related Words

enfilade; rake, strafe; assail, assault, attack, devastate, hit, pound, ravage, strike

See Synonym Discussion at attack

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical