Shrapnel: meaning, definitions and examples

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shrapnel

 

[ หˆสƒrรฆpnษ™l ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

military term

Shrapnel refers to fragments of a bomb, shell, or other explosive device that are thrown out when it detonates. It is primarily used to inflict injury or damage to people and objects in the vicinity of the explosion. The term comes from the name of Henry Shrapnel, an English artillery officer who developed a type of ammunition that contained small projectiles designed to be scattered over a wide area. Shrapnel can cause serious injuries or fatalities due to its high speed and unpredictability. It is a significant concern in combat situations, as troops must be aware of potential shrapnel injuries.

Synonyms

debris, fragment, shard, splinter

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers were warned about the dangers of shrapnel in the field.
  • Shrapnel from the explosion injured several civilians.
  • He had to undergo surgery due to shrapnel wounds.
  • The blast radius included numerous shrapnel hazards.

Translations

Translations of the word "shrapnel" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น fragmentos

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค›เคฐเฅเคฐเฅ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Splitter

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ pecahan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะพัะบะพะปะบะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ odล‚amki

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ ด็‰‡

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท รฉclats

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ esquirlas

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ลŸarapnel

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํŒŒํŽธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุดุธุงูŠุง

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tล™รญsky

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ รบlomky

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅผน็‰‡

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ kosmi

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sprengiefni

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะพัะบะพะปะบะฐะปะฐั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒคแƒ แƒแƒ’แƒ›แƒ”แƒœแƒขแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ลŸrapnel

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ fragmentos

Etymology

The word 'shrapnel' is derived from the name of British Army officer Henry Shrapnel, who invented an explosive artillery shell in the late 18th century. The shell contained small metal balls and was designed to explode in the air or upon impact, scattering its contents over a wide area to maximize damage to enemy troops. This innovation was significant in the evolution of artillery warfare, as it marked a shift from traditional solid shot to explosive shells that caused greater devastation. The term was first recorded in military literature in the early 19th century and has since become synonymous with the destructive power of modern munitions. Today, 'shrapnel' is used in both military contexts and colloquially to refer to any debris or fragments resulting from an explosion.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,072, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.