Artillery Meaning
/ɑːˈtɪləɹi/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounLarge projectile weapons, in modern usage usually large guns, but also rocket artillery.
nounAn army unit that uses such weapons, or a military formation using projectile weapons, such as archers.
Sentence Examples
The soldiers had artillery.
Sami had an artillery vest.
A volley of artillery fire completely destroyed the buildings.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The army positioned heavy ____ on the hill to bombard the enemy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heavy ____ was used to destroy the enemy's strong fortifications.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English artillerie, from Old French artillerie (“collection of military engines, crossbows, lances etc.”), from artillier (“to equip, provide with contraptions”), alteration of atiller (“to arrange, adjust, put on clothes or, especially, pieces of armour”) (influenced by art), itself from Vulgar Latin *apticlō < **apticulō, from Latin aptō (“to make capable”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"And Ionathan gaue his artillery vnto his ladde, and said vnto him, Goe, cary them to the citie."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 20:40:
"The old walls […] were surely strong enough to keep out men without battering-rams, balistas, or artillery of any kind. [Footnote] Artillery is here used in its old English meaning for any kind of warlike engine. Cf. I Sam. XX. 40."
— 1866, Charles Kingsley, chapter 24, in Hereward the Wake, London: Nelson, page 330:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The army positioned heavy ____ on the hill to bombard the enemy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heavy ____ was used to destroy the enemy's strong fortifications.