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

A Molotov cocktail tumbled in an arc overhead and erupted briefly in a blaze.

From The Daily Beast

One landlord even paid somebody to hurl a Molotov cocktail into an apartment just to smoke out tenants and jack up rents.

From The Daily Beast

I knew immediately that the chemistry was a Molotov cocktail.

From The Daily Beast

While Davis was campaigning for that most recent election, her office was attacked with a Molotov cocktail.

From The Daily Beast

Local media had been reporting that the arsonist was using some kind of Molotov cocktail to smash through the car windows.

From The Daily Beast

I could have made a Molotov cocktail by filling it with gas and using the rag for a fuse.

From Project Gutenberg