Bombardment
/ˌbɒmˈbɑːd.mənt/noun
The act of attacking a place with repeated heavy gunfire or explosives.
Did you know?The core word *bombard* ultimately came from a term for a large cannon, and English turned that into the violent noun *bombardment* in the age of siege warfare.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
bombardement
“An attack with cannon fire or heavy artillery”
Middle French
French
bombardement
“Bombardment; cannon fire”
Middle French
French
bombarde
“A large cannon or bombard”
Late Latin
Latin
bombus
“A booming, buzzing sound”
Ancient Greek
Greek
bombos
“A deep, humming noise”