moóc-chê
Definition
- Noun:
- Mortar: A military term for a portable, muzzle-loading cannon used to launch explosive projectiles (mortar shells) at high angles over relatively short distances.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Binh lính đang chuẩn bị khẩu moóc-chê. (The soldiers are preparing the mortar.)
- Tiếng moóc-chê nổ vang khắp chiến trường. (The sound of mortar fire echoed across the battlefield.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "moóc-chê" is a direct phonetic loanword from the French word "mortier". It is used almost exclusively in a military context.
Variants and Related Words
- Đạn moóc-chê (n): mortar shell, mortar round.
- Họ phải tìm nơi trú ẩn khỏi đạn moóc-chê. (They had to find shelter from the mortar shells.)
Synonyms
- Mortar: A short, smoothbore gun for firing shells at high angles.
- Mortar piece: Another term for a mortar weapon.
Notes on Usage
- "Moóc-chê" is a technical, specialized term. In general descriptions, the English loanword "mortar" is also commonly used in Vietnamese.
- It refers specifically to the weapon system, not to the building material (also called "mortar" in English).