minuteman
Definition
Noun: 1. A member of the civilian militia in the American colonies who was prepared to fight at very short notice ("in a minute's notice") during the period before and during the American Revolutionary War. 2. The common name for the LGM-30 Minuteman, a type of U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) equipped with nuclear warheads and housed in hardened underground silos.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Historical Militia):
- The Minuteman grabbed his musket and rushed to join the fight at Lexington.
- Every town had its company of Minutemen, ready to defend their community.
- Noun (Weapon System):
- The Minuteman III is a key component of America's nuclear deterrent.
- The Air Force maintains a fleet of Minuteman missiles on constant alert.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used symbolically to represent patriotism, readiness, and the citizen-soldier ideal in American culture.
- His speech invoked the spirit of the Minuteman, calling for vigilance and civic duty.
Variants and Related Words
- Militiaman (n): A member of a militia, a broader term that includes Minutemen.
- ICBM (n, acronym): Intercontinental Ballistic Missile; the category of weapon system to which the Minuteman belongs.
Synonyms
- For the historical militia: colonial soldier, patriot militiaman.
- For the weapon system: ICBM, strategic missile, nuclear missile.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "Minute Man" readiness: A phrase describing a state of being prepared to act instantly.
- The cybersecurity team maintains a "Minute Man" readiness to respond to threats.
Noun
-
a strategic weapon system using a guided missile of intercontinental range; missiles are equipped with nuclear warheads and dispersed in hardened silos
-
an American militiaman prior to and during the American Revolution
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