star shell

noun

1. a shell that bursts in the air and produces a bright light to illuminate enemy positions.

star shell

noun

1. an artillery shell containing a flare or other illuminant: often containing a parachute to prolong the descent of the illuminating material

Word History and Origins

Origin of star shell¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The screenwriter Anthony McCarten seems to find that the woman underneath the pop star shell was still struggling to define herself at the time of her death at the age of 48.

From New York Times

At night the scene was illuminated by star shells.

From Washington Post

At night, enemy snipers call for star shells so the landscape's lit pale like fridgelight.

From Literature

The glory lights up the world and changes it the way a star shell changes a battleground.

From Literature

The Germans did not seem to know what was going on, but they wanted to know, and they sent up a number of star shells.

From Project Gutenberg