ack-ack

or Ack-Ack

[ ak-ak ]

noun

, Informal.

1. antiaircraft fire.
2. antiaircraft arms.

ack-ack

/ ˈækˌæk /

noun

1. 1. anti-aircraft fire
   2. ( as modifier )

      ack-ack guns

2. anti-aircraft arms

Word History and Origins

Origin of ack-ack¹

1935–40; for A.A. (abbreviation of a(nti) a(ircraft) ) as said by British signalmen referring to sense 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of ack-ack¹

C20: British army World War I phonetic alphabet for AA, abbreviation of anti-aircraft

Example Sentences

“The surface vessels were throwing up a tremendous barrage of ack-ack fire.”

From New York Times

More recent history lies in the second world war ack-ack gun emplacements, still in good shape, but more and more engulfed by the vegetation every year.

From The Guardian

Beyond the ack-ack, they heard artillery fire, their own, some way further to the west.

From Literature

The ack-ack guns make so much noise you can’t hear your own voice.

From Literature

Atkinson beautifully conjures London under siege, with the blackout and the bombing and the “ack-ack guns being assembled” in Hyde Park.

From New York Times