torpedo

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin torpēdō (“a torpedo fish; numbness, torpidity, electric ray”), from torpeō (“I am stiff, numb, torpid; I am astounded; I am inactive”) +‎ -ēdō (noun suffix), from Proto-Indo-European *ster (“stiff”).

Cognate with Old English steorfan (“to die”), Ancient Greek στερεός (stereós, “solid”), Lithuanian tirpstu (“to become rigid”), Old Church Slavonic трупети (trupeti).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌtɔː(ɹ)ˈpiː.dəʊ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌtɔɹˈpi.doʊ/
• Hyphenation: tor‧pe‧do

Noun

a self-propelled explosive torpedo in a museum

a spotted torpedo fish (Torpedo marmorata)

a rail transport torpedo on a railway line

torpedo (plural torpedoes or torpedos)

1. (military) A cylindrical explosive projectile that can travel underwater and is used as a weapon.
2. A fish having wings that generate electric current, a kind of electric ray.
3. (regional) A submarine sandwich.
4. (archaic, military) A naval mine.
5. (obsolete, military) An explosive device buried underground and set off remotely, to destroy fortifications, troops, or cavalry; a land torpedo.
6. (slang) A professional gunman or assassin.
7. (rail transport, US) A small explosive device attached to the top of the rail to provide an audible warning when a train passes over it.
8. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet, which explodes when thrown upon a hard object.
9. An automobile with a torpedo body.
10. (slang, chiefly US, usually plural) a woman's shoe with a pointed toe [1910s]
11. (slang, chiefly US, usually plural) a large breast; breast with a large nipple [from 1960s]
12. (slang) a marijuana cigarette
    1. a thick marijuana cigarette [1940s]
    2. a cigarette containing marijuana and crack cocaine [from 1980s]

Verb

torpedo (third-person singular simple present torpedoes, present participle torpedoing, simple past and past participle torpedoed)

1. To send a torpedo, usually from a submarine, that explodes below the waterline of the target ship.
2. To sink a ship with one of more torpedoes.
3. To undermine or destroy any endeavor with a stealthy, powerful attack.

Anagrams

• optrode, pet door, toe drop, trooped

Etymology

From English torpedo, borrowed from Latin torpēdō (“a torpedo fish; numbness, torpidity, electric ray”), from torpeō (“I am stiff, numb, torpid; I am astounded; I am inactive”) +‎ -ēdō (noun suffix), from Proto-Indo-European *ster (“stiff”).

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: tor‧pe‧do

Noun

torpedo

1. (military) a torpedo; a cylindrical explosive projectile that can travel underwater and is used as a weapon

Etymology

From Latin torpēdō (“a torpedo fish”), from torpēdō (“numbness, torpidity, electric ray”), from torpeō (“I am stiff, numb, torpid; I am astounded; I am inactive”) and -dō (“noun suffix”), from Proto-Indo-European *ster (“stiff”), see also Old English steorfan (“to die”), Ancient Greek στερεός (stereós, “solid”), Lithuanian tirpstu (“to become rigid”), Old Church Slavonic трупети (trupeti)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɔrˈpeː.doː/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: tor‧pe‧do

Noun

torpedo f, m (plural torpedo's, diminutive torpedootje n)

1. torpedo

Alternative forms

• torpeedo (archaic)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt̪o̞rpe̞ːdo̞/

Noun

torpedo

1. torpedo (self-propelled cylindrical explosive projectile that can travel underwater)

Noun

torpedo f (invariable)

1. tourer (motorcar)

See also

• torpedine

Anagrams

• deporto, deportò

Etymology

torpeō (“I am stiff or numb”) +‎ -ēdō.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /torˈpeː.doː/, [tɔrˈpeː.doː]

Noun

torpēdō f (genitive torpēdinis); third declension

1. lethargy, inertness, sluggishness
2. torpedo fish

References

• torpedo in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• torpedo in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• torpedo in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)

Etymology

From Latin torpedo, via English torpedo or German Torpedo

Noun

torpedo m (definite singular torpedoen, indefinite plural torpedoer, definite plural torpedoene)

1. a torpedo

References

• “torpedo” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Etymology

From Latin torpedo, via English torpedo or German Torpedo

Noun

torpedo m (definite singular torpedoen, indefinite plural torpedoar, definite plural torpedoane)

1. a torpedo

References

• “torpedo” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Etymology

From Latin torpēdō (“a torpedo fish”), from torpēdō (“numbness, torpidity, electric ray”), from torpeō (“I am stiff, numb, torpid; I am astounded; I am inactive”) and -dō (“noun suffix”). Compare torpor.

Pronunciation

• (South Brazil) IPA^(key): /toɻ.ˈpe.do/

Noun

torpedo m (plural torpedos)

1. torpedo (submarine weapon)
2. SMS (a text message sent on a cell phone)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /torpěːdo/
• Hyphenation: tor‧pe‧do

Noun

torpédo m (Cyrillic spelling торпе́до)

1. torpedo

Etymology

From Latin torpēdō (“a torpedo fish”).

Noun

torpedo m (plural torpedos)

1. torpedo (fish)
2. torpedo (weapon)