firing squad

noun

1. a military detachment assigned to execute a condemned person by shooting.
2. a military detachment assigned to fire a salute at the burial of a person being honored.

firing squad

noun

1. a small military detachment formed to implement a death sentence by shooting

Word History and Origins

Origin of firing squad¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

At the age of 35 he was shot by a firing squad in January 1961, with the tacit backing of Belgium.

From BBC

Tortured and accused of bizarre espionage plots, he was ultimately executed by firing squad.

From Salon

Donald Trump is rebutting the “fascist” charge in the final days of the campaign by publicly fantasizing about one of his leading critics facing what sounds an awful lot like a military firing squad.

From Salon

Inmates in South Carolina are allowed to choose whether they want to die by lethal injection, electric chair or firing squad.

From BBC

Other works include The Execution of Christ, a statue depicting Jesus facing down a firing squad of Maos, and Miss Mao, a collection of statues of Mao with large breasts and protruding noses.

From BBC