Definitions
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an antipersonnel land mine
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Examples
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bilby commented on the word bouncing betty
"During World War II, more than 300 million antitank mines, filled with powerful, lightweight trinitrotoluene (TNT), were deployed by all warring parties. The military use of antitank mines was compromised, however, because they could be easily removed and re-deployed by the enemy. Smaller antipersonnel landmines were developed to address this problem. They were deployed around antitank mines to prevent their removal. One of the most effective antipersonnel landmines during this time was the German-made bouncing betty, which was designed to jump from the ground to hip-height when activated and to propel hundreds of steel fragments within a wide range. Military forces soon began to use antipersonnel landmines as a weapon in their own right."
- 'The Problem of Landmines - History', clearlandmines.com, cited 9 Feb 2009.
February 9, 2009