| 释义 |
howitzer|ˈhaʊɪtsə(r)|
Forms: α. 8 hau-, haw-, hobitzer. β. 7 hauwitzer, 8 hawitzer, 8– howitzer.
[A deriv. of prec.; the same suffix appears in Du. houwitser (in 1663 houvietser), Fr. obusier for earlier obus (see Hatz.-Darm.).]
A short piece of ordnance, usually of light weight, specially designed for the horizontal firing of shells with small charges, and adapted for use in a mountainous country.
α1703Lond. Gaz. No. 3941/2 A Battery of two Mortars and 4 Haubitzers. 1736T. Lediard Life Marlborough III. 138, 12 Hawbitzers, or little Mortars. 1760Hist. Europe in Ann. Reg. 14/1 The signal.. was given by four hawbitzers fired in the air.
β1695Lond. Gaz. No. 3106/3, 40 Mortars and Hauwitzers. 1704Ibid. No. 4059/3, 2 Hawitzers, and 100 Hand-Mortars. 1812Examiner 14 Sept. 581/1 We drove the enemy from..the town by howitzers. 1884J. Colborne Hicks Pasha 158 At each corner..were placed..the rifled howitzers.
†b. The shell thrown by this piece of ordnance.
1761Brit. Mag. II. 442 A..body of Russians..had begun to throw some howitzers into that town, with an intention to set the magazines on fire.
c. Comb., as howitzer-boat (cf. gunboat).
1801Nelson 15 Aug. in Nicolas Disp. (1845) IV. 463 Captain Coun who commands the Division of Howitzer-Boats..is to open his fire from the Howitzers upon the batteries and camp. 1844W. Siborne Waterloo I. x. 386 (Stanf.) Major Bull's British howitzer horse-battery. |