bombard

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: bom=bard

CIDE DICTIONARY

bombard, n. [F. bombarde, LL. bombarda, fr. L. bombus + -ard. Cf. Bumper, and see Bomb.].

•  A piece of heavy ordnance formerly used for throwing stones and other ponderous missiles. It was the earliest kind of cannon.  [1913 Webster]

  "They planted in divers places twelve great bombards, wherewith they threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city, might break down the houses."  [1913 Webster]
•  A bombardment.  J. Barlow.  [1913 Webster]
•  A large drinking vessel or can, or a leather bottle, for carrying liquor or beer.  [1913 Webster]

  "Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor."  [1913 Webster]
•  Padded breeches.  [1913 Webster]

Bombard phrase, inflated language; bombast. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

bombard, n. [OE. bombarde, fr. F. bombarde.].

 See Bombardo.  [1913 Webster]

bombard, v. t. 

 To attack with bombards or with artillery; especially, to throw shells, hot shot, etc., at or into.  [1913 Webster]
"Next, she means to bombard Naples."  [1913 Webster]
"His fleet bombarded and burnt down Dieppe."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bombard, v.tr.
1 attack with a number of heavy guns or bombs.
2 (often foll. by with) subject to persistent questioning, abuse, etc.
3 Physics direct a stream of high-speed particles at (a substance).

Derivative

bombardment n.

Etymology

F bombarder f. bombarde f. med.L bombarda a stone-throwing engine: see BOMB

THESAURUS

bombard

accelerate, activate, aim at, assail, assault, atomize, attack, barrage, batter, besiege, blast, blitz, blow to pieces, blow up, bomb, cannon, cannonade, cleave, commence firing, cross-bombard, enfilade, fire a volley, fire at, fire upon, fission, fusillade, mine, mortar, nucleize, open fire, open up on, pepper, pop at, rake, set upon, shell, shoot, shoot at, smash the atom, snipe, snipe at, spring, strafe, strike, take aim at, torpedo, zero in on

ROGET THESAURUS

bombard

Attack

VB attack, assault, assail, invade, set upon, fall upon, charge, impugn, break a lance with, enter the lists, assume the offensive, take the offensive, be the aggressor, become the aggressor, strike the first blow, draw first blood, throw the first stone at, lift a hand against, draw the sword against, take up the cudgels, advance against, march against, march upon, harry, come on, show fight, strike at, poke at, thrust at, aim a blow at, deal a blow at, give one a blow, fetch one a blow, fetch one a kick, give one a kick, have a cut at, have a shot at, take a cut at, take a shot at, have a fling at, have a shy at, be down upon, pounce upon, fall foul of, pitch into, launch out against, bait, slap on the face, make a thrust at, make a pass at, make a set at, make a dead set at, bear down upon, close with, come to close quarters, bring to bay, ride full tilt against, attack tooth and nail, go at hammer and tongs, let fly at, dash at, run a tilt at, rush at, tilt at, run at, fly at, hawk at, have at, let out at, make a dash, make a rush at, strike home, drive one hard, press one hard, be hard upon, run down, strike at the root of, lay about one, run amuck, aim at, draw a bead on, fire upon, fire at, fire a shot at, shoot at, pop at, level at, let off a gun at, open fire, pepper, bombard, shell, pour a broadside into, fire a volley, fire red-hot shot, spring a mine, throw a stone, throw stones at, stone, lapidate, pelt, hurl at, hurl against, hurl at the head of, rock beset, besiege, beleaguer, lay siege to, invest, open the trenches, plant a battery, sap, mine, storm, board, scale the walls, cut and thrust, bayonet, butt, kick, strike, whip, assail, impugn, malign (detract), bomb, rocket, blast.