Military History Vocabulary

noun a heavy metal or stone ball used as a projectile from a cannon

• The cannonball was fired from the ship's deck towards the enemy vessel.
• We all took turns doing cannonballs off the diving board at the pool party.
• I dare you to do a cannonball off that bridge into the river below!
• Her words hit me like a cannonball, leaving me stunned and speechless.

noun a structure that serves as a memorial to the dead, especially to those who died in a war

• The cenotaph in the town square is a solemn reminder of those who gave their lives in war.
• Let's meet at the cenotaph before heading to the park.
• That new skate park is like a cenotaph for all the broken boards and wheels.
• Her old diary served as a cenotaph for her past memories.

noun a ditch or trench, especially one dug as a fortification or boundary

verb none

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

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• The archaeologists discovered a well-preserved fosse surrounding the ancient castle.
• I almost fell into the fosse while exploring the old ruins.
• Watch out for that fosse, it's pretty deep!
• She felt like she was trapped in a fosse of her own making, unable to escape her circumstances.

noun A slang term for a United States Marine, derived from the term 'Leatherneck'

• The gyrene exhibited exceptional discipline and leadership during the military training exercise.
• Hey, did you hear that the new guy in our squad is a gyrene?
• I heard that gyrenes always have each other's backs in tough situations.
• Being a gyrene in the corporate world means always being prepared for any challenge that comes your way.

verb past tense of the verb 'fight', indicating that a battle or competition occurred

adjective describing the level of intensity or effort put into a fight or competition

adverb modifying the verb 'fought' to indicate the manner in which the fighting occurred

• The team emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle on the field.
• It was a hard-fought match, but we managed to come out on top.
• That game was so intense, it was a real hard-fought showdown.
• Their relationship was a hard-fought journey, but they eventually found common ground.

noun A person who is skilled in riding horses, especially in horseback riding competitions or as a cavalry soldier.

• The horseman rode through the fields with precision and grace.
• The horseman looked so cool galloping on his horse.
• Check out that horseman showing off his riding skills.
• He was a true horseman, always leading the team to victory.

noun a tax or fee imposed by a government or authority

verb to impose or collect a tax or fee

• The government decided to levy a new tax on luxury goods.
• They're going to levy a fine if you don't pay your parking ticket on time.
• I can't believe they're going to levy a fee for using the ATM at that bank!
• The weight of responsibility seemed to levy a heavy burden on his shoulders.

noun goods, money, or other valuables obtained illegally or by questionable means

verb to steal goods, money, or other valuables

• The thieves were caught red-handed with stolen loot from the bank.
• Let's split the loot evenly between us.
• We scored some sweet loot from that heist.
• She looted my heart with her charming smile.

noun a type of cloud that resembles the shape of a mushroom, often associated with nuclear explosions

• The explosion created a massive mushroom cloud visible from miles away.
• Dude, did you see that mushroom cloud after the bomb went off?
• That mushroom cloud was lit, bro!
• Her anger rose like a mushroom cloud, engulfing everything in its path.

noun a British soldier, especially a member of the British army during the American Revolution

adjective describing something related to or characteristic of a British soldier or the British army during the American Revolution

• The redcoat soldiers marched in formation during the historical reenactment.
• I saw a group of redcoats at the Revolutionary War event.
• The redcoats were looking sharp in their uniforms.
• She's always been a redcoat for the company, always loyal and dedicated.

noun A person who follows an army to sell provisions to the soldiers

• The sutler provided provisions to the soldiers during the war.
• The sutler set up a shop near the camp to sell goods to the soldiers.
• The sutler was known for hooking up the soldiers with extra rations.
• The sutler of gossip always had the juiciest rumors to share.

noun a city in Belgium where Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in 1815

• Waterloo is a city in Belgium known for its historical significance.
• Let's meet at the Waterloo station for lunch.
• I heard there's a cool party happening in Waterloo tonight.
• Facing your fears can feel like battling your own Waterloo.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or gives more information about a noun

• The white feather on the bird's wing was a striking contrast against the blue sky.
• I found a beautiful white feather while walking in the park.
• That white feather is so cool, I'm going to keep it as a souvenir.
• Her words were like a white feather, light and delicate, but carrying a powerful message.

noun a type of heavy-duty water pump used in mining

adjective describing something as being long and tubular in shape

• The long tom is a type of heavy artillery used in military operations.
• I heard they're bringing out the long tom for target practice today.
• Check out that long tom over there, it's massive!
• His words hit me like a long tom, leaving a lasting impact on my emotions.

noun a playing card with a single spot on it, ranked as the highest card in its suit in most card games

verb to score highly or perfectly in a test or exam

• The student aced all of his exams this semester, earning straight A's.
• I heard you aced that job interview! Congratulations!
• She's totally acing this project, she's a real ace.
• His performance on the field was aces, he really stood out among the rest.