Ammunition
/ˌæm.jəˈnɪʃ.ən/noun
Supplies, especially bullets, shells, or other material used in combat.
Did you know?The word entered English through French as a term for military stores and provisions, and only later narrowed to mean weapons payloads like bullets and shells.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mey-
“to change, exchange, or move about”
Latin
Latin
mūniō
“to fortify, build, or defend”
Latin
Latin
mūnītiō
“a fortification or defensive work”
Old French
Old French
amunition
“military stores, provisions, or equipment”
Early Modern English
English
amunition
“supplies, especially military stores”
Modern English
English
ammunition
“projectiles and materials used in warfare”