Cannonade: meaning, definitions and examples

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cannonade

 

[ ˌkænəˈneɪd ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

military action

A cannonade is a continuous fire or bombardment from a battery of artillery. It typically involves the shooting of cannon or similar artillery pieces during a battle or military engagement, aimed at overwhelming the enemy's position.

Synonyms

artillery fire, bombardment, salvo

Examples of usage

  • The troops advanced under cover of a cannonade.
  • The cannonade lasted for hours, shaking the ground.
  • During the battle, the cannonade marked the beginning of the assault.
  • The generals ordered a cannonade to soften enemy defenses.
Context #2 | Verb

military attack

To cannonade means to attack or bombard an area with cannon fire. This can be conducted in a sustained manner during military operations to inflict damage or suppress enemy forces.

Synonyms

attack, bombard, shell

Examples of usage

  • The army decided to cannonade the fort before launching an assault.
  • They cannonaded the enemy lines to create a diversion.
  • The fleet cannonaded the coastal defenses.
  • In response, they cannonaded with full force.

Translations

Translations of the word "cannonade" in other languages:

🇵🇹 bombardeio

🇮🇳 तोप का गोलाबारी

🇩🇪 Kanonefeuer

🇮🇩 tembakan meriam

🇺🇦 обстріл з гармат

🇵🇱 kanonada

🇯🇵 砲撃

🇫🇷 barrage d'artillerie

🇪🇸 barrido de cañón

🇹🇷 topçu ateşi

🇰🇷 포격

🇸🇦 قصف مدفعي

🇨🇿 dělostřelecká palba

🇸🇰 delostrelecká paľba

🇨🇳 炮火

🇸🇮 topniški ogenj

🇮🇸 fallbyssuskot

🇰🇿 артиллериялық атқылау

🇬🇪 კannonade

🇦🇿 top atəşi

🇲🇽 bombardeo de cañón

Etymology

The word 'cannonade' originates from the 17th century, derived from the French term 'cannonade', which is a derivative of 'cannon', referring to a large artillery piece. The French 'cannon' itself comes from the Italian 'cannone', which means 'large tube' or 'pipe', a reference to the design of early gunpowder weapons. The increase in artillery use during European warfare necessitated a term to describe the incessant firing of cannon, leading to the establishment of 'cannonade' in military vocabulary. Throughout history, the cannonade has played a significant role in warfare, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, when artillery barrages could shape the outcome of battles decisively. Today, while the usage of large cannons has diminished with the advent of modern warfare technologies, the term remains in historical and literary contexts, reflecting its rich heritage in the evolution of military tactics.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,452, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.