Petard
/pəˈtɑːrd/noun
A small bomb or explosive charge used to break open doors or fortifications.
Did you know?Petard comes from French pétard, ultimately from a word for a fart-like burst, because early explosives were named for the violent pop they made.
Etymological Timeline
Late 16th Century
French
pétard
“A small explosive device used to blast open gates or walls”
Late 16th Century
English
petard
“A military bomb or blasting charge”
Earlier French
French
péter
“To fart; to explode with a burst”
Vulgar Latin
VL
*peditāre
“To fart repeatedly”
Latin
Latin
pēdere
“To break wind”