shrapnel
UK: ˈʃræpnəl | US: ˈʃræpnəl
n. fragments of a bomb, shell, or other explosive projectile scattered during an explosion
n. (figuratively) any scattered debris or remnants
The word "shrapnel" originates from the name of British artillery officer Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), who invented an explosive shell designed to scatter lethal metal fragments. The term was first recorded in 1806, initially referring to the projectile itself but later narrowing to its destructive fragments. The "-nel" suffix is not a classical morpheme but likely serves a nominalizing function, anchoring the word to its inventor. The logic is straightforward: a proprietary name (Shrapnel) → a generic term for the weapon’s output (fragments).
The explosion sent shrapnel flying in all directions.
Surgeons worked to remove shrapnel from the soldier’s leg.
The car’s windshield was pierced by shrapnel from the roadside bomb.
After the demolition, shrapnel littered the construction site.
His memoir describes the psychological toll of dodging shrapnel in battle.