bazooka

[ buh-zoo-kuh ]

noun

, Military.

1. a tube-shaped, portable rocket launcher that fires a rocket capable of penetrating several inches of armor plate, as of a tank or other armored military vehicle.

bazooka

/ bəˈzuːkə /

noun

1. a portable tubular rocket-launcher that fires a projectile capable of piercing armour: used by infantrymen as a short-range antitank weapon

Word History and Origins

Origin of bazooka¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35; from its resemblance to a musical instrument so named, invented and played by comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s and 1940s

Word History and Origins

Origin of bazooka¹

C20: named after a pipe instrument invented by Bob Burns (1896–1956), American comedian

Example Sentences

You are asking me to make a prediction and I don't know which gun I've got - a bazooka or a water pistol.

From BBC

"Y'all heard that bazooka that was dropped on the game, right? Boy, I must have had a thousand missed calls. Texts flooded."

From BBC

Conservatives in both the US and UK need a "bigger bazooka" to fight the left, former Prime Minister Liz Truss has told an event in Washington DC.

From BBC

Despite that, she said conservatives had to "challenge the system itself", saying: "It's not even enough to get the position of power that you need to deliver those policies because conservatives are now operating in a hostile environment... we essentially need a bigger bazooka in order to be able to deliver."

From BBC

If this was France's backlash to what happened to them against Ireland in Marseille then it was more popgun than bazooka.

From BBC

Related Words

• ammunition
• bomb
• cannon
• firearm
• gun
• knife
• machete
• machine gun
• missile
• nerve gas
• pistol
• revolver
• rifle
• shotgun
• sword
• tear gas