hand grenade

noun

1. a grenade or explosive shell that is thrown by hand and exploded either by impact or by means of a fuze.
2. a grenade or glass missile containing a chemical, for extinguishing fire.

hand grenade

noun

1. a small metal or plastic canister containing explosives, usually activated by a short fuse and used in close combat

Word History and Origins

Origin of hand grenade¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

"It's like we have some hand grenades in the back of a jeep and sometimes they go off when there's a lot of pressure."

From BBC

First there was a shooting outside the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, then two Swedish teenagers aged 16 and 19 were arrested in Copenhagen after hand grenades were detonated near the embassy there.

From BBC

On Thursday, the two were charged with possessing hand grenades and denotating them near the embassy.

From BBC

A gardener working in Baldwin Park made a shocking discovery Thursday when he found a cache of hand grenades on a sidewalk.

From Los Angeles Times

Separately on Monday, a hand grenade exploded in the southern city of Kandahar, killing at least one civilian and wounding three, the Kandahar police chief’s office said.

From Seattle Times