pillbox
/'pilbɔks/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, enclosed, often concrete military fortification: A pillbox is a small, low defensive structure, typically made of reinforced concrete, with openings (embrasures) for weapons like machine guns. It is designed to protect soldiers and provide a fortified firing position.
- A small container for storing pills: A pillbox is a portable case, often with compartments for different days or times, used to organize and hold doses of medication.
- A small, round, stiff hat for women: A pillbox is a style of women's hat, characterized by its small, cylindrical, and often brimless shape, popular in the mid-20th century.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Military):
- The soldiers took cover in the concrete pillbox during the attack.
- The old coastal defenses included several abandoned pillboxes.
- Noun (Medicine Container):
- She fills her weekly pillbox every Sunday to manage her medication.
- I keep my vitamins in a small plastic pillbox in my bag.
- Noun (Hat):
- Jacqueline Kennedy was famously associated with the pillbox hat.
- She wore a simple black pillbox to the formal event.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Military Context: The term "pillbox" became particularly common during World War I and World War II to describe small, hardened defensive positions.
- The network of German pillboxes along the Atlantic Wall was a formidable obstacle.
Variants and Related Words
- Bunker (n): A reinforced underground shelter, often larger and more complex than a pillbox.
- Blockhouse (n): A similar type of fortified strongpoint, often made of heavy timber or concrete.
- Dispenser (n): A general term for a container that dispenses items, which could include a pill dispenser.
- Cloche (n): Another style of women's hat, bell-shaped, from a similar historical period.
Synonyms
- Military: Emplacement, fortification, strongpoint, bunker (in some contexts).
- Container: Pill case, medication organizer, dispenser.
- Hat: Toque (in some specific styles), small hat.
Related Phrases
- "Pillbox hat": The full term commonly used for the fashion item.
- Her elegant outfit was completed with a classic pillbox hat.
Noun
- a small enclosed gun emplacement (usually of fortified concrete)
- a small case for holding pills
- a small round woman's hat