War & Conflict

grenadier C2

/ˌɡrɛnəˈdɪr/ a soldier originally trained to throw grenades, and later a member of an elite infantry regiment or guard unit M S

reservist C2

/rɪˈzɝːvɪst/ a member of a military reserve who can be called into active service M S

redistribution C2

/ˌɹiːdɪstɹəˈbjuːʃən/ distributing again M S

disintegrator C2

/dɪsˈɪntəˌɡreɪtɚ/ a fictional weapon or device that destroys matter by breaking it apart M S

conscript C2

/ˈkɑːnskrɪpt/ a person compulsorily enrolled in military or other public service M S

broadsword C2

/ˈbrɔːdˌsɔːrd/ a sword with a broad blade, typically sharpened on both edges and designed mainly for cutting M S

halve C2

/hɑːv/ divide by two M S

bulwark C2

/ˈbʊl.wɚk/ to defend with a bulwark M S

embattled C2

/ɛmˈbætəld/ involved in, surrounded by, or persistently troubled by conflict or controversy M S

munition C2

/ˌmjuˈnɪʃən/ usually plural: military weapons, ammunition, explosives, and other supplies used in war M S

furtively C2

/ˈfɝːtɪvli/ in a furtive manner M S

thereon C2

/ðɛˈɹɑn/ on that M S

portcullis C2

/pɔrtˈkʌlɪs/ a heavy gate made of a wood or metal grating that slides vertically to block a fortified entrance M S

queller C2

/ˈkwɛlɚ/ a person or thing that suppresses, subdues, or puts an end to resistance, disorder, or a strong feeling M S

redoubt C2

/rɪˈdaʊt/ a small enclosed defensive fortification, often temporary or supplementary M S

whitish C2

/ˈwaɪtɪʃ/ Somewhat white, pale or almost white. M S

blunderbuss C2

/ˈblʌn.dɚˌbʌs/ An old style of muzzleloading firearm and early form of shotgun with a distinctive short, large caliber barrel that is flared at the muzzle, therefore able to fire scattered quantities of nails, stones, shot, etc. at short range. M S

peremptory C2

/pɝˈɛmptɝi/ putting an end to all debate or action M S

conciliation C2

/kənˌsɪliːˈeɪʃən/ The act of ending a conflict and bringing people back to peace. M S

polemic C2

/pəˈlɛmɪk/ Having the characteristics of a polemic. M S

emplacement C2

/ɪmˈpleɪsmənt/ military installation consisting of a prepared position for siting a weapon M S

slavish C2

/ˈsleɪvɪʃ/ blindly imitative M S

guardroom C2

/ˈɡɑːrdˌruːm/ a room occupied by soldiers or other personnel while they are on guard duty M S

artilleryman C2

/ɑrˈtɪlərimən/ a soldier trained to operate artillery weapons M S

nimbly C2

/ˈnɪmbli/ in a nimble manner M S

mutineer C2

/ˌmjuː.tənˈɪr/ a person who takes part in a mutiny, especially a sailor or soldier rebelling collectively against commanding officers M S

seaward C2

/ˈsiːwə(ɹ)d/ in the direction of the sea M S

subaltern C2

/sʌbˈɔːl.tɚn/ historical British military usage: a commissioned army officer below the rank of captain, such as a lieutenant M S

portentous C2

/pɔː(ɹ)ˈtɛntəs/ of momentous or ominous significance M S

armorer C2

a manufacturer of firearms M S

palisade C2

/ˌpæl.əˈseɪd/ a defensive fence or barrier made from a close row of strong pointed wooden stakes M S

milquetoast C2

/ˈmɪlkˌtoʊst/ meek or timid M S

stymie C2

/ˈstaɪmi/ An obstacle or obstruction. M S

pervade C2

/pɚˈveɪd/ To be in every part of; to spread through; to permeate. M S

battlement C2

/ˈbæt.əl.mənt/ a defensive parapet at the top of a castle or wall, with alternating raised sections and gaps for observation or weapons M S

pusillanimous C2

/ˌpjuːsɪlˈænɪməs/ Showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible timidity. M S

buckler C2

/ˈbʌk.lɚ/ historical: a small round shield held in the hand or worn on the arm for parrying blows M S

unionism C2

/ˈjuːnjəˌnɪzəm/ The support of advocacy of a union, especially of a trade union. M S

soldiery C2

/ˈsəʊldʒəɹi/ Soldiers considered as a group. M S

ostracize C2

/ˈɑstɹəˌsaɪz/ avoid speaking to or dealing with M S

circumlocution C2

/ˌsɝkəmləˈkjuʃən/ A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; thus M S

pyrrhic C2

/ˈpɪɹɪk/ of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits, especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans M S

belligerence C2

/bəˈlɪdʒɝəns/ Aggressive, hostile behaviour or a readiness to fight. M S

bowstring C2

/ˈboʊˌstɹɪŋ/ the cord stretched between the ends of an archer's bow and drawn back to shoot an arrow M S

trireme C2

/ˈtraɪ.riːm/ an ancient Mediterranean war galley propelled chiefly by oars arranged in three banks on each side M S

generalship C2

/ˈdʒɛnɝəlˌʃɪp/ skill or performance in commanding an army and directing military operations M S

cannonade C2

/ˌkæn.əˈneɪd/ intense or sustained firing by cannons or other artillery M S

fusillade C2

/ˌfjuː.zɪˈleɪd/ a large number of shots fired simultaneously or in rapid succession M S

flanker C2

/ˈflæŋ.kɚ/ a soldier or unit positioned to guard, attack, or operate on the side of a military formation M S

cannoneer C2

/ˌkænəˈnɪ(ə)ɹ/ An artillery soldier who maintains and operates (historical) a cannon, or (now) some other piece of heavy artillery. M S

hoplite C2

/ˈhɑːplaɪt/ a heavily armed citizen infantry soldier of ancient Greece, typically carrying a spear and large round shield M S

cuirass C2

/kwɪˈræs/ a piece of body armour protecting the chest and back, originally of leather and later usually of metal M S

virago C2

/vɪˈɹɑːɡəʊ/ a large, strong, and aggressivly dominating woman M S

protean C2

/ˈpɹoʊ.tɪ.ən/ Exceedingly variable; readily assuming different shapes or forms. M S

bandolier C2

/ˌbæn.dəˈlɪr/ a belt worn over one shoulder with loops or pockets for carrying cartridges M S

outwork C2

/ˈaʊtˌwɝk/ a subsidiary defensive fortification built beyond a fortress's main enclosure M S

sanguinary C2

/ˈsæŋɡwɪnɛɹi/ involving or accompanied by much bloodshed M S

venality C2

/vɪˈnælɪti/ prostitution of talents or offices or services for reward M S

attenuate C2

/əˈten.jʉˌæɪt/ to become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude M S

ballista C2

/bəˈlɪs.tə/ an ancient torsion-powered missile weapon resembling a giant crossbow and used to launch heavy bolts or stones M S

pugnacity C2

/pʌɡˈnæsəti/ The act or characteristic of being aggressive or combative. M S

distributive C2

/dɪsˈtɹɪbjʊtɪv/ Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing a proper share to each. M S

regimentals C2

/ˌrɛdʒəˈmɛntəlz/ the uniform and insignia of a soldier's regiment; a plural-only and often historical noun M S

condottiere C2

/ˌkɑːn.dəˈtjɛr.eɪ/ historical: the commander of a mercenary company in Italy or elsewhere in Europe, especially from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries M S

exigency C2

/ˈɛɡzəd͡ʒənsi/ a pressing or urgent situation M S

sullenly C2

/ˈsʌlənli/ In a sullen manner. M S

rapine C2

/ˈræp.ɪn/ the violent seizure of property, especially widespread pillage during war or civil disorder M S

ruction C2

/ˈrʌkʃən/ informal: a noisy quarrel, fight, or angry disturbance M S

outrider C2

/ˈaʊtˌraɪ.dɚ/ a mounted escort who rides ahead of or beside a procession, vehicle, or body of travelers M S

impressment C2

/ɪmˈprɛsmənt/ historical: the forcible recruitment of people into military service, especially sailors into a navy M S

militate C2

/ˈmɪlɪteɪt/ To give force or effect toward; to influence. M S

zouave C2

/zuːˈɑːv/ a soldier of a French light-infantry corps originally recruited in Algeria and known for a distinctive, brightly colored uniform M S

unwonted C2

/ʌnˈwɑntɪd/ out of the ordinary M S

culverin C2

/ˈkʌlvəɹɪn/ a long-barreled cannon used chiefly in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries M S

caltrop C2

/ˈkæl.trəp/ a small metal device with four spikes arranged so that one point always faces upward, used to injure feet, hooves, or tires M S

refulgent C2

/ɹəˈfʌld͡ʒənt/ As if giving off light or warmth. M S

zareba C2

/zəˈriːbə/ an improvised defensive enclosure or stockade, especially one made from thorn bushes in parts of Africa M S

breastwork C2

/ˈbrɛstˌwɝːk/ a low defensive wall or earthwork high enough to protect a fighter's chest M S

unlimber C2

/ˌʌnˈlɪmbər/ to detach an artillery piece from its limber and make it ready to fire M S

ambuscade C2

/ˈæm.bəˌskeɪd/ an ambush, or a concealed position from which a surprise attack is made M S

linstock C2

/ˈlɪnˌstɑk/ A pointed forked staff, shod with iron at the foot, to hold a lighted match for firing cannon. M S

poniard C2

/ˈpɑn.jɚd/ historical: a dagger with a slender blade, often of triangular or square cross section M S

polemarch C2

/ˈpɑləˌmɑɹk/ in ancient Greece, a senior military commander or war leader M S

bowshot C2

/ˈboʊˌʃɑt/ the distance over which an arrow can be shot effectively from a bow M S

besieger C2

/bɪˈsiː.dʒɚ/ a person or force that surrounds and attacks a fortified place in order to make it surrender M S

sally port C2

/ˈsæli ˌpɔːrt/ a small gate or passage in a fortified place through which defenders can make a sortie M S

catapulta C2

/ˌkætəˈpʌltə/ historical: a Roman military engine for launching arrows, stones, or other projectiles M S

trierarch C2

/ˈtraɪ.əˌrɑːrk/ a commander or captain of a trireme in the ancient Greek world M S

reinvasion C2

/ˌriːɪnˈveɪʒən/ a renewed or subsequent invasion M S

ensigncy C2

/ˈen.sən.si/ historical: the rank, office, or commission of an ensign, especially a junior officer in an army regiment M S

habergeon C2

/ˈhæbərdʒən/ historical: a short, sleeveless or short-sleeved coat of mail, lighter than a hauberk M S

rencounter C2

/ˌrɛnˈkaʊntər/ to meet, encounter, or collide with M S

warmonger C2

/ˈwɔɹˌmɑŋɡɚ/ disapproving: a person who eagerly encourages or promotes war M S

warmongering C2

/ˈwɔɹˌmɑŋɡɚɪŋ/ disapproving: the activity of encouraging war or urging a country to use military force M S