case shot
Definition
Noun: A type of ammunition consisting of a metallic cylinder or case filled with numerous small projectiles (shot), designed to be fired from a cannon or other large firearm to produce a scattering effect.
Usage
Case shot is a historical military term for a specific anti-personnel ammunition type. It functions as a singular, countable noun. It is typically used in contexts discussing historical warfare, artillery, and ammunition. * The artillery crew loaded case shot into the cannon to repel the advancing infantry. * Museums often display examples of case shot alongside other cannonballs. * The effectiveness of case shot declined with the advent of more modern artillery shells.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term is almost exclusively used in historical or technical descriptions of pre-20th century warfare. It is a precursor to modern canister shot and shrapnel shells.
- The general ordered the use of case shot at close range to maximize its devastating effect on the enemy lines.
Variants and Related Words
- Canister shot: A later, more refined type of anti-personnel ammunition with a similar scattering principle, often used interchangeably with "case shot" in general descriptions, though technically a development of it.
- Grapeshot: A similar type of clustered projectile ammunition, but typically involving larger metal balls arranged around a central column, as opposed to many small shot packed in a case.
Synonyms
- Canister (in historical artillery context)
- Anti-personnel round (general modern term for the function)
Related Phrases
- To load case shot: The action of preparing this ammunition in a firearm.
- The gunners were commanded to load case shot.
- A round of case shot: Referring to a single unit of this ammunition.
- A single round of case shot could decimate a company of soldiers at close quarters.
Noun
-
a metallic cylinder packed with shot and used as ammunition in a firearm
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