field-gun
Definition
Noun: - A field-gun is a type of light, mobile artillery piece used by armies on the battlefield, typically for direct fire support against enemy troops, fortifications, or vehicles. It is designed to be moved quickly and operated by a small crew, often mounted on wheels or a carriage.
Usage Examples
- (A mobile artillery piece used in combat.)
- (Light artillery used for quick, effective strikes.)
Advanced Usage
- "to fire a field-gun": to operate or discharge a field-gun in battle.
- The crew fired the field-gun repeatedly until the ammunition was exhausted. (They used the artillery piece continuously.)
- "field-gun battery": a unit of multiple field-guns and their crew.
- The field-gun battery was positioned on the hill to maximize range. (A group of field-guns working together.)
Variants and Related Words
- Field-piece (n): another term for a field-gun, often used interchangeably.
- The field-piece was lighter than the heavy siege artillery. (A synonym for field-gun.)
- Field artillery (n): the branch of the military that operates field-guns.
- Field artillery units are trained to deploy quickly in combat. (The category of weapons including field-guns.)
Synonyms
- Cannon: a large, heavy gun used in warfare, though field-guns are typically smaller and more mobile.
- Howitzer: a type of artillery with a shorter barrel, often used for high-angle fire, similar to a field-gun.
- Mortar: a portable, short-range artillery piece, but distinct from a field-gun in design and use.
Related Idioms
- "Spike the field-gun": to disable a field-gun by driving a spike into the touchhole, historically used to prevent capture.
- The retreating troops spiked the field-gun to keep it out of enemy hands. (They rendered the gun inoperable.)
- "Field-gun salute": a ceremonial firing of field-guns to honor a dignitary or event.
- The king was greeted by a field-gun salute of twenty-one rounds. (A formal artillery greeting.)