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Strafe: meaning, definitions and examples

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strafe

 

[ streɪf ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

military action

To strafe is to attack (ground targets) by aircraft gunfire. This term is often associated with combat in warplanes, especially in the context of World War II. Strafing attacks are typically intended to hit enemy troops, vehicles, or installations on the ground. The action involves flying low over the target and firing weapons while maneuvering to avoid counter-fire. Strafing can create substantial destruction and casualties.

Synonyms

attack, bombard, fire upon.

Examples of usage

  • The fighter jets strafed the enemy positions.
  • The pilot was trained to strafe ground forces effectively.
  • They planned to strafe the enemy encampment before the main assault.
  • The historical aircraft were used to strafe enemy lines during the battle.

Translations

Translations of the word "strafe" in other languages:

🇵🇹 penalização

🇮🇳 दंड

🇩🇪 Strafe

🇮🇩 hukuman

🇺🇦 покарання

🇵🇱 kara

🇯🇵 罰

🇫🇷 punition

🇪🇸 castigo

🇹🇷 ceza

🇰🇷 처벌

🇸🇦 عقوبة

🇨🇿 trest

🇸🇰 trest

🇨🇳 惩罚

🇸🇮 kazen

🇮🇸 refsing

🇰🇿 жаза

🇬🇪 სჯა

🇦🇿 cəzalandırma

🇲🇽 castigo

Etymology

The word 'strafe' originates from the German word 'strafen', which means 'to punish.' The term was adopted into English during World War I, particularly in the context of aviation and military operations. In its early usage, 'strafe' described the act of attacking ground targets from the air, emphasizing the punitive aspect of air strikes against enemy positions. Over the years, its application has expanded, but it still retains strong military connotations, particularly associated with the dogfighting tactics used by fighter pilots. The way the word has been used in popular culture, especially in video games and action films, has further embedded it into the lexicon of modern warfare, representing both the intensity and strategy of air combat.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,063, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.