field-piece

A soldier loads a field-piece during a military exercise.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Artillery piece for field use: A "field-piece" is a type of cannon or mobile artillery gun designed for use on the battlefield, typically moved by horses or vehicles and used to support infantry or cavalry during combat. It is also known as field artillery.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The army deployed several field-pieces to the front line to bombard the enemy positions. (Mobile cannons used in open-field combat.)
  • During the Napoleonic Wars, field-pieces were essential for breaking enemy formations. (Artillery guns designed for battlefield use.)

Advanced Usage

• "to man a field-piece": to operate or crew a field artillery gun.

  • The soldiers were trained to man a field-piece under heavy fire. (To operate the cannon in combat conditions.)

• "field-piece crew": the group of soldiers responsible for loading, aiming, and firing a field artillery gun.

  • The field-piece crew worked quickly to reload and fire again. (The team operating the cannon.)

Variants and Related Words

• Field artillery (n): a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field, often including field-pieces.

  • Field artillery units were positioned behind the infantry lines. (Mobile cannon units.)

• Field gun (n): a synonym for field-piece, often a lighter, more mobile type of cannon.

  • The field gun was pulled by horses across the muddy terrain. (A mobile artillery piece.)

Synonyms

• Cannon: a large, heavy gun used in warfare.
• Howitzer: a type of artillery piece with a shorter barrel, used for firing shells at high angles.
• Artillery: a general term for large-caliber guns used in warfare.

Related Idioms

• "Bring up the field-pieces": to advance artillery into a firing position.
  • The commander ordered the troops to bring up the field-pieces to support the assault. (To move the cannons forward for battle.)