bombard

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A bombardment. [ Poetic & R. ] J. Barlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A large drinking vessel or can, or a leather bottle, for carrying liquor or beer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. pl. Padded breeches. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Bombard phrase, inflated language; bombast. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. bombarde, fr. F. bombarde. ] (Mus.) See Bombardo. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. bombardier. ] (Mil.) (a) One who used or managed a bombard; an artilleryman; a gunner. [ Archaic ] (b) A noncommissioned officer in the British artillery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bombardier beetle (Zool.), a kind of beetle (Brachinus crepitans), so called because, when disturbed, it makes an explosive discharge of a pungent and acrid vapor from its anal glands. The name is applied to other related species, as the Brachinus displosor, which can produce ten or twelve explosions successively. The common American species is Brachinus fumans. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who carried liquor or beer in a can or bombard. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They . . . made room for a bombardman that brought bouge for a country lady. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. bombardement. ] An attack upon a fortress or fortified town, with shells, hot shot, rockets, etc.; the act of throwing bombs and shot into a town or fortified place. [ 1913 Webster ]