shrapnel

shrap·nel

noun
\ˈshrap-n^əl, especially Southern ˈsrap-\

plural shrapnel

Definition of SHRAPNEL

1

: a projectile that consists of a case provided with a powder charge and a large number of usually lead balls and that is exploded in flight

2

: bomb, mine, or shell fragments

Examples of SHRAPNEL

1. He has a piece of shrapnel in his leg.
2. Shrapnel from the explosion wounded many people.

Origin of SHRAPNEL

Henry Shrapnel †1842 English artillery officer

First Known Use: 1806

Other Military Terms

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

Rhymes with SHRAPNEL

grapnel