Shrapnel
/ˈʃræp.nəl/noun
Small fragments of metal scattered by an explosion, especially from artillery shells.
Did you know?Shrapnel is named after Henry Shrapnel, the British artillery officer who developed an early anti-personnel shell; the explosive fragments came to define the word, even though that was not its original technical meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Late 18th Century
English
shrapnel
“A type of anti-personnel artillery shell designed to scatter lead balls or fragments”
19th Century
English
shrapnel
“The shell itself and, later, the fragments scattered by its explosion”
English
English
Shrapnel
“The surname of Henry Shrapnel, the weapon's inventor”
Medieval English
English
scrap
“A small piece or fragment”
Old Norse
ON
skrap
“Scrape, scratch, or scrap-like piece”