Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To assault with heavy artillery fire.
- intransitive verb To deliver heavy artillery fire.
- noun An extended, usually heavy discharge of artillery.
- noun A harsh verbal or physical attack.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A continued discharge of cannon or artillery; specifically, such a discharge directed against an enemy.
- To attack with ordnance or artillery; batter with cannon.
- To discharge cannon; fire large guns.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The act of discharging cannon and throwing ball, shell, etc., for the purpose of destroying an army, or battering a town, ship, or fort; -- usually, an attack of some continuance.
- noun Fig.; A loud noise like a cannonade; a booming.
- transitive verb To attack with heavy artillery; to batter with cannon shot.
- intransitive verb To discharge cannon.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Firing
artillery in a large amount for a length of time . - verb To discharge artillery fire.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun intense and continuous artillery fire
- verb attack with cannons or artillery
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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But I hadn't time to feel too satisfied, for in that moment there was a new thunderous cannonade from the Russians, much closer now; the whistle of shot sounded overhead, there was a great babble of shouting and orders from the cavalry behind me, the calls of the Lights and Heavies sounded, and the whole mass of our horse began to move off westward, retiring again.
The Sky Writer Geoff Barbanell 2010
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Clouds of brown smoke from burning corn and the thatched root's of villages rolled across the battlefield under a gentle westerly breeze, streaked at intervals with the black, oily discharge of a flaming tank; the continuous rattle and chatter of small-arms fire was overlaid by a steady cannonade from the Russian 76-mm. 's and the scream of Katyusha rockets; periodically the high-pitched slap of the 88-mm. 's told of the Tigers 'defending themselves some three to four miles away.
Barbarossa Clark, Alan 1965
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What air there was might touch all alike, but would affect least the "Lawrence," "Detroit," and "Queen Charlotte," because their sails were being rent; and also they were in the centre of the cannonade, which is believed usually to kill the breeze.
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The great "artillery duel," as American writers are so fond of calling what used to be termed a cannonade, seems to have astounded the Federal organs into something like frankness and veracity.
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As the season gets later, the birds do not shift their ground so frequently; and, moreover, getting scared by the eternal cannonade which is kept up, they fly very high when they do cross.
Lands of the Slave and the Free Cuba, the United States, and Canada Henry A. Murray
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An early-morning cannonade on the castle opened the action the next day.
Between War and Peace Col. Matthew Moten 2011
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I have sustained a continual Bombardment of increased high-stakes testing and accountability-related bureaucracy and a cannonade of gross underfunding for 10 years at least and have lost several good men and women.
Texas district schools chief issues plea in Alamo-like letter Valerie Strauss 2011
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The trauma on Tuesday was followed in the middle of Thursday night by a storm, a howling banshee that shook buildings—thunder like a cannonade, lightning tearing through the sky.
We'll Never Get Over It, Nor Should We Peggy Noonan 2011
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We seem to have survived the cannonade of illegal fireworks.
Entry #2,205 greygirlbeast 2009
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Masked Mexican batteries poured a fierce cannonade, catching Worth unaware and cutting swaths through his troops.
Between War and Peace Col. Matthew Moten 2011
bilby commented on the word cannonade
Most refreshing when served in a hi-ball with a dash of cordite.
October 9, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word cannonade
Stop, you're making me thirst for the scent of the mancave.
October 9, 2008
reesetee commented on the word cannonade
I love the smell of cordite in the morning.
October 9, 2008