Bombard

bombard
    n 1: a large shawm; the bass member of the shawm family [syn:
         {bombardon}, {bombard}]
    v 1: cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile; "They
         pelted each other with snowballs" [syn: {pelt}, {bombard}]
    2: throw bombs at or attack with bombs; "The Americans bombed
       Dresden" [syn: {bombard}, {bomb}]
    3: address with continuously or persistently, as if with a
       barrage; "The speaker was barraged by an angry audience";
       "The governor was bombarded with requests to grant a pardon
       to the convicted killer" [syn: {bombard}, {barrage}]
    4: direct high energy particles or radiation against
    

Bombard \Bom"bard\, n. [F. bombarde, LL. bombarda, fr. L. bombus
   + -ard. Cf. {Bumper}, and see {Bomb}.]
   1. (Gun.) A piece of heavy ordnance formerly used for
      throwing stones and other ponderous missiles. It was the
      earliest kind of cannon.
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            They planted in divers places twelve great bombards,
            wherewith they threw huge stones into the air,
            which, falling down into the city, might break down
            the houses.                           --Knolles.
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   2. A bombardment. [Poetic & R.] --J. Barlow.
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   3. A large drinking vessel or can, or a leather bottle, for
      carrying liquor or beer. [Obs.]
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            Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a
            foul bombard that would shed his liquor. --Shak.
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   4. pl. Padded breeches. [Obs.]
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   {Bombard phrase}, inflated language; bombast. [Obs.] --B.
      Jonson.
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Bombard \Bom"bard\, n. [OE. bombarde, fr. F. bombarde.] (Mus.)
   See {Bombardo}. [Obs.]
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Bombard \Bom*bard"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bombarded}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Bombarding}.]
   To attack with bombards or with artillery; especially, to
   throw shells, hot shot, etc., at or into.
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         Next, she means to bombard Naples.       --Burke.
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         His fleet bombarded and burnt down Dieppe. --Wood.
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47 Moby Thesaurus words for "bombard":
      accelerate, activate, aim at, assail, assault, atomize, attack,
      barrage, batter, besiege, blast, blitz, blow to pieces, blow up,
      bomb, cannon, cannonade, cleave, commence firing, cross-bombard,
      enfilade, fire a volley, fire at, fire upon, fission, fusillade,
      mine, mortar, nucleize, open fire, open up on, pepper, pop at,
      rake, set upon, shell, shoot, shoot at, smash the atom, snipe,
      snipe at, spring, strafe, strike, take aim at, torpedo,
      zero in on