artillery
UK: ɑːˈtɪləri | US: ɑːrˈtɪləri
n. Large-caliber guns used in warfare on land.
n. The branch of an army that specializes in the use of such weapons.
n. (Figurative) A means of delivering something forcefully (e.g., "artillery of criticism").
artillery = art<skill, craft> + ill<related to war> + ery<noun suffix (place/collection)>
- art (from Latin ars/artis): Originally meant "skill" or "craft," later extended to military engineering.
- ill (from Old French iller, related to war): Derived from Latin arma (weapons), but the spelling shifted in Old French.
- ery (suffix): Denotes a collective or functional category (e.g., "machinery").
Etymology Origin:
The word evolved from Latin artillaria (engines of war), blending ars (skill) with weaponry. In medieval French, artillerie referred to all military equipment, later narrowing to heavy guns. The morpheme ill reflects its martial lineage, while ery systematizes it as a military branch.
The artillery bombardment shook the ground for miles.
He served in the Royal Artillery during World War II.
Modern artillery relies on precision-guided munitions.
Her speech was an artillery of facts against the opposition.
The fortress was defended by hidden artillery positions.