✈️ Bomb aimer 🎖️ Artillery officer

bombardier

1 9.8

A soldier in the British artillery who has a rank like a corporal

noun
/ˌbɒm.bɑːˈdɪə/

Jargon

: bombardero

During the battle, the experienced bombardier played a crucial role in coordinating the artillery fire.

It goes gunner, Bombardier, master Bombardier Sergeant, weren't and and off like that.

Examples

- Bombardier ready, sir.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
DENNIS: Bombardier, I'm giving it to you.

Memphis Belle (1990)
DENNIS: Bombardier, report.

Memphis Belle (1990)
RASCAL: Read you, Bombardier.

Memphis Belle (1990)
VAL: Bombardier checking in.

Memphis Belle (1990)
The bombardier was responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the artillery during the military exercise.
As a bombardier, he often communicated directly with the troops to adjust their target practices.

Synonyms

corporal

vsbombardier

Specialized

177 4.3

A low-ranking soldier who leads a small group

is the same rank but used specifically in the artillery

Compounds

bombardier beetle

1 8.8

A small beetle that defends itself by shooting a hot, smelly spray and making a popping sound

Surface Forms

bombardier singular

bombardiers plural

Morphology

bombardier = bombard (semi-transparent) = bombard + ier

Agentive formation from 'bombard' + '-ier' is visible, but the specific military rank sense is specialized and not fully deducible by an average learner.

Etymology

Bombardier comes from the French word bombard, a heavy, booming weapon like an old cannon, and the -ier part means 'person'. So a bombardier in the army was originally someone who worked with big guns, which is why it is a rank in the army's gun unit.