petard

[ pi-tahrd ]

noun

1. an explosive device formerly used in warfare to blow in a door or gate, form a breach in a wall, etc.
2. a kind of firecracker.
3. (initial capital letter) Also called Flying Dustbin. a British spigot mortar of World War II that fired a 40-pound (18-kilogram) finned bomb, designed to destroy pillboxes and other concrete obstacles.

petard

/ pɪˈtɑːd /

noun

1. (formerly) a device containing explosives used to breach a wall, doors, etc
2. hoist with one's own petard
   being the victim of one's own schemes
3. a type of explosive firework

Word History and Origins

Origin of petard¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French, equivalent to pet(er) “to break wind” (derivative of pet, from Latin pēditum “a breaking wind,” originally neuter of past participle of pēdere “to break wind”) + -ard noun suffix; -ard

Word History and Origins

Origin of petard¹

C16: from French: firework, from péter to break wind, from Latin pēdere

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hoist by / with one's own petard, hurt, ruined, or destroyed by the very device or plot one had intended for another.

Example Sentences

As the accidental spokesperson for politically conscious casting, he’d rather not be hoisted on his own petard.

From Los Angeles Times

On the other hand, I was happily hoist by my own obsessive petard by a passing reference to a “dirty martini.”

From Washington Post

A political party hoisted, as the saying goes, on its own petard.

From Salon

But she was hoisted by her own homophonous petard.

From Seattle Times

The words “hoist” and “petard” come to mind.

From Washington Post