Molotov cocktail

noun

1. a crude incendiary grenade consisting of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a wick that is ignited before throwing: used originally for setting fire to enemy tanks during the Spanish Civil War.

Molotov cocktail

/ ˈmɒləˌtɒf /

noun

1. an elementary incendiary weapon, usually a bottle of petrol with a short-delay fuse or wick; petrol bomb

Molotov cocktail

1. An incendiary bomb made from a breakable container, such as a bottle, filled with flammable liquid and provided with a rag wick. Used by the Soviets against the invading German armies in World War II , these bombs were nicknamed after V. M. Molotov, a foreign minister of the Soviet Union at that time.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Molotov cocktail¹

First recorded in 1935–40; named after V. M. Molotov

Word History and Origins

Origin of Molotov cocktail¹

C20: named after V. M. Molotov

Example Sentences

In his call to authorities about the mosque, he claimed that he had an illegally modified AR-15, a Glock 17 pistol, pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails.

From Los Angeles Times

A Florida man was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison for assisting two Orange County men in making a Molotov cocktail used to attack a Costa Mesa Planned Parenthood in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times

Molotov cocktails thrown at the police, and prisoners taking guards hostage.

From New York Times

Surveillance footage showed two men throwing a Molotov cocktail at the front door of the medical facility.

From Seattle Times

He said the synagogue was hit with three firebombs, or Molotov cocktails, and only sustained minimal damage “by tremendous luck or miracle.”

From Seattle Times