shrapnel Meaning & Definition
What Does Shrapnel Mean?
Shrapnel is used as a noun meaning An anti-personnel artillery shell used in World War I which carries a large number of individual bullets or balls close to the target and then ejects them to allow them to continue along the shell's trajectory and strike the target individually. It is also used to mean The bullets or balls from the aforementioned type of artillery shell.
Quick Facts About Shrapnel
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃɹæpnəl/ |
| Plural | shrapnels |
Shrapnel Definition (Noun)
- An anti-personnel artillery shell used in World War I which carries a large number of individual bullets or balls close to the target and then ejects them to allow them to continue along the shell's trajectory and strike the target individually.
- The bullets or balls from the aforementioned type of artillery shell.
- Any shot, fragments, or debris thrown out by an exploding shell, bomb, or landmine.
- Debris.
The dog ate my sandwich, and there was shrapnel all over the place from him tearing open the bag.
- Loose change.
Synonyms of Shrapnel
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Shrapnel synonyms and antonyms →Shrapnel in a Sentence
The dog ate my sandwich, and there was shrapnel all over the place from him tearing open the bag.
Word Forms & Grammar
shrapnel (usually uncountable, plural shrapnels)
Words That Rhyme With Shrapnel
Origin of Shrapnel
From Shrapnel. Named after British army officer Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842) who invented an anti-personnel shell that transported a large number of bullets to the target before releasing them, at a far greater distance than rifles could fire the bullets individually. The surname is likely a metathesized form of Charbonnel, a diminutive of Old French charbon (“charcoal”) in reference to hair color, complexion, or the like.