petard
English
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petard¹
- /pɪˈtɑːd/ UK
- /pɪˈtɑɹd/ US
Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)d
Where it comes from
From Middle French petard; see Modern French pétard (“firecracker”).
noun petards · pettard
- A small, hat-shaped explosive device, used to breach a door or wall. For tis the ſport to haue the enginer / Hoiſt with his ovvne petar, an't ſhall goe hard / But I vvill delue one yard belovve their mines, / And blovve them at the Moone: […]
- Anything potentially explosive, in a non-literal sense.
- A loud firecracker.
petard²
- /pɪˈtɑːd/ UK
- /pɪˈtɑɹd/ US
Rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)d
Where it comes from
From Middle French petarder (Modern French pétarder), from petard + -er (suffix forming verbs).
verb petards · petarding · petarded · pettard
- To attack or blow a hole in (something) with a petard. The Souldier, if he but go to beſiege a cottage, to ſcale a Caſtle, to robbe a Church, to Pettard [translating petarder] a gate, to force a religious houſe, or any villenous act, before he attempt-it, praieth to God for his aſſiſtance, though his intents and hopes be full-fraught with crueltie, murt
Petard³
proper noun
- A surname.
Translations
Talk about this word "petard." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/petard. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. petard. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/petard "petard." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/petard.Cite this
@misc{petard_2026,
title = {petard},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/petard},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
