cannonade

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   intense or sustained firing by cannons or other artillery

   A fitful cannonade echoed from the hills beyond the town.

2. 2
   noun

   a rapid succession of loud noises, remarks, or blows

   The witness faced a cannonade of questions from reporters.

3. 3
   verb

   to attack or bombard with cannon fire

   The fleet cannonaded the coastal fort until dusk.

Borrowed from French canonnade, modeled on Italian cannonata and formed from canon, 'cannon,' + -ade, a suffix for an action or collective discharge. The figurative sense transfers repeated artillery fire to any forceful series.

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