SINCE 1828
bar shot
nounDefinition of bar shot
: a cannon shot consisting of two spheres or hemispheres united by a bar and formerly used in naval warfare
It should also be noted that bar shot was effectively employed against the rigging and sails of enemy ships only at close range, as this type of artillery projectile was quite inaccurate because the round spun once it had been fired.— Douglas R. Cubbison, The American Northern Theater Army in 1776, 2010
also
: a discharge of such shot
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on bar shot
What made you want to look up bar shot? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Word Puzzles
-
- Which answer pairs best with each of the following words? living, estate, club, music, road, mile
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Word Puzzles
Challenge yourself with these word puzzles. Can you solve them all?
Take the quiz -
Where in the World? A Quiz
Do you know what languages these words come from?
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Syn City
Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.
Play the game
Share bar shot
Resources for bar shot