artillery Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun large but transportable armament
    heavy weapon; ordnance; gun.
  2. noun an army unit that uses big guns
    artillery unit.
  3. noun a means of persuading or arguing
    weapon.
    • he used all his conversational weapons

WordNet

Ar*til"ler*y noun
Etymology
OE. artilrie, OF. artillerie, arteillerie, fr. LL. artillaria, artilleria, machines and apparatus of all kinds used in war, vans laden with arms of any kind which follow camps; F. artillerie great guns, ordnance; OF. artillier to work artifice, to fortify, to arm, prob. from L. ars, artis, skill in joining something, art. See Art.
Definitions
  1. Munitions of war; implements for warfare, as slings, bows, and arrows. Obs.
    And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad. 1 Sam. xx. 40.
  2. Cannon; great guns; ordnance, including guns, mortars, howitzers, etc., with their equipment of carriages, balls, bombs, and shot of all kinds. ✍ The word is sometimes used in a more extended sense, including the powder, cartridges, matches, utensils, machines of all kinds, and horses, that belong to a train of artillery.
  3. The men and officers of that branch of the army to which the care and management of artillery are confided.
  4. The science of artillery or gunnery. Campbell.

Webster 1913