Artillery
/ɑːrˈtɪlər.i/noun
Large-caliber weapons, such as cannons and rocket systems, designed to fire projectiles over considerable distances.
Did you know?In medieval English, artillery could refer to siege engines and other military equipment long before gunpowder weapons dominated the battlefield.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ar-
“To fit, join, or arrange together; the reconstructed root associated with skillful making.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ars, artis
“Skill, craft, method, or a disciplined practice.”
Late Latin
Latin
artillaria
“Military equipment or apparatus, derived from the language of skilled construction and equipment.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
artillerie
“Military engines, equipment, and the craft of preparing them for war.”
14th Century
Middle English
artillerie
“Engines of war, weapons, and military stores.”
Modern English
English
artillery
“Heavy ranged weapons, especially cannons, howitzers, and related systems.”