munition
/ˌmjuˈnɪʃən/ noun, verb
Forms munitions munitioning munitioned
- noun (chiefly in the plural) Materials of war: armaments, weapons and ammunition.
- noun (chiefly in the plural, military, NATO) Bombs, rockets, missiles (complete explosive devices, in contrast to e.g. guns).
- noun (rare, obsolete) A tower or fortification.
- verb (transitive) To supply with munitions.
Synonyms
weaponry arms implements of war weapons system ordnance ordnance store fortification
Etymology
From Latin mūnitiō (“a defence, fortification”) via French munition, from mūnīre (“fortify, defend (with a wall)”) + -tiō, from moenia (“city walls, defensive walls, or walls in general”). Equivalent to munite + -ion.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Fortification; stronghold. [Obs.]
- noun Whatever materials are used in war for drfense or for annoying an enemy; ammunition; also, stores and provisions; military stores of all kinds.
Etymology [F., munition of war, L. munitio a fortifying, fortification, fr. munire to fortify, defend with a wall; cf. moenia walls, murus (for moirus) a wall, and Skr. mi to fix, make firm. Cf. Ammunition.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “munition”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details