Main Entry:

shrap·nel

Pronunciation:

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

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural shrapnel

Etymology:

Henry Shrapnel †1842 English artillery officer

Date:

1806

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