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artillery

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(är til′ər ē)

noun

Archaic apparatus, as catapults or arbalests, for hurling heavy missiles
guns of large caliber, too heavy to carry; mounted guns (excluding machine guns), as cannon or missile launchers: artillery may be mobile, stationary, or mounted on ships, airplanes, etc.
the science of guns; gunnery

Origin: ME < OFr artillerie < artillier (prob. altered by assoc. with arte, art) < atillier, to equip; dissimilated var. of atirier: see attire

Related Forms:

artilleryman noun pl. artillerymen or artillerist

See artillery in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ar·til·ler·ies

Large-caliber weapons, such as cannon, howitzers, and missile launchers, that are operated by crews.
The branch of an army that specializes in the use of such weapons.
The science of the use of guns; gunnery.
Weapons, such as catapults, arbalests, and other early devices, used for discharging missiles.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English artillerie

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from artillier, to equip

Origin: , perhaps alteration of atiller

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin *apticulāre

Origin: , from Latin aptāre, to fit, adapt

Origin: , from aptus, apt; see apt

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