Crossfire: meaning, definitions and examples
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crossfire
[ ˈkrɔsˌfaɪər ]
combat situation
Crossfire refers to a situation in which two or more opposing forces shoot at each other, often leading to unintended casualties among those caught in the middle. It can occur during armed conflict, police actions, or any scenario involving firearms where bullets are fired from two directions at a target or area. The term underscores the danger of being in a position where one is exposed to fire from multiple sides.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The civilian casualties were due to crossfire during the battle.
- He was injured in the crossfire between rival gangs.
- Troops were ordered to avoid crossfire to protect non-combatants.
- They found themselves caught in the crossfire during the shootout.
Translations
Translations of the word "crossfire" in other languages:
🇵🇹 fogo cruzado
🇮🇳 क्रॉसफायर
🇩🇪 Querschläger
🇮🇩 tembakan silang
🇺🇦 перехресний вогонь
🇵🇱 ogień krzyżowy
🇯🇵 クロスファイア
🇫🇷 tir croisé
🇪🇸 fuego cruzado
🇹🇷 çarpışma ateşi
🇰🇷 교차 사격
🇸🇦 نيران متقاطعة
🇨🇿 křížová palba
🇸🇰 krížová paľba
🇨🇳 交叉火力
🇸🇮 križna požarna
🇮🇸 kross eldur
🇰🇿 кроссфайр
🇬🇪 კვეთა ცეცხლი
🇦🇿 kəsişən atəş
🇲🇽 fuego cruzado
Etymology
The term crossfire originates from the combination of 'cross' and 'fire'. The word 'cross' comes from the Old English 'cros', which has roots in Latin 'crux', meaning a 'cross' or intersection. This concept implies an intersection of fire coming from two opposite directions. The word 'fire' itself stems from the Old English 'fyr', which has Germanic origins, meaning combustion or flames. Crossfire as a military term began to gain prominence in the early 20th century, particularly during the World Wars, to describe situations in which soldiers could unintentionally be caught in between the crosshairs of firing lines. This made the term commonly associated with warfare and the risks involved in combat scenarios.