petard

Alternative forms

• pettard

Etymology

From Middle French petarder, see pétard.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɪˈtɑːd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pəˈtɑɹd/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)d

Noun

petard (plural petards)

1. (historical) A small, hat-shaped explosive device, used to blow a hole in a door or wall.
2. Anything potentially explosive, in a non-literal sense.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Shakespeare, Hamlet

     For tis the sport to haue the enginer / Hoist with his owne petar

3. (now rare) A loud firecracker.

Verb

petard (third-person singular simple present petards, present participle petarding, simple past and past participle petarded)

1. (now rare, archaic) To attack or blow a hole in (something) with a petard.
   • 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, The Essayes, […], printed at London: […] Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:
     , I.56:

     The souldier, if he but goe to besiege a cottage, to scale a castle, to rob a church, to pettard [transl. petarder] a gate, to force a religious house, or any villanous act, before he attempt it praieth to God for his assistance, though his intents and hopes be full-fraught with crueltie, murther, covetise, luxurie, sacrilege, and all iniquitie.

Anagrams

• depart, drapet, parted, prated, rapted, tarped, traped

Noun

petard f

1. genitive plural of petarda

Etymology

From French pétard, used since 1600.

Noun

petard c

1. a petard (small bomb)
2. a petard (firecracker)

References

• petard in Svenska Akademiens ordbok online.