petard
6
9.9
- noun
- /pɪˈtɑrd/
- Archaic
:
petardo
- The soldiers placed a petard against the wall to breach the fortress.
When you say hung by your own petard, a petard is a firework of some sort.
- When you say hung by your own petard, a petard is a firework of some sort.
- How common is that where you kind of get hoist on your own petard?
Examples
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Actually, according to Shakespeare, who originated the phrase, it is 'hoist with his own petard.'
Blog text (28) -
Personally I prefer a small bomb the French invented called a petard.
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For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard, and it shall go hard.
Blog text (28) -
In the past, armies often used a petard to blow open castle gates during sieges.
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Historical texts describe how the petard was an essential tool for many military engineers.
Synonyms
2
6.7
A heavy explosive used in war that explodes and breaks into pieces
1
9.9
A hidden bomb set to explode later to kill or hurt people
1
9.8
A bomb that breaks into many small fast metal pieces to hit soldiers and vehicles
An explosive device made from plastic explosives that can be shaped to fit small spaces
Idioms
Surface Forms
Etymology
Petard comes from French péter, which meant 'to break wind' and is like the English word 'fart', because the little bomb made a loud, bursting sound. So a petard is a small bomb used to blow open gates or walls.