counter-batteryn.
Military.† 1. † 3. [counter- prefix 2j] A battering of each other.
a. A counter-attack with artillery. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > discharge of firearms > management of artillery > [noun] > bombardment > counter-bombardment
counter-battery1572
1572 W. Malim tr. N. Martinengo True Rep. Famagosta f. 4 And we made a counterbattery against our enemies for 10. dayes space.
1592 H. Unton Corr. (1847) 429 With some few peces of artillerie making counter battery.
1651 J. Howell S.P.Q.V. 103 The besieged did..make so furious a counter-Battery, as, etc.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon i. iv. 156.
b. figurative.
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1594 2nd Rep. Dr. Faustus viii. sig. E3 Faustus hadde begun to prepare for the counterbattery, determining to throw downe vppon the assemblies heads so many heauy charmes and coniurations, that they should fall downe.
2. A battery raised against another. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > piece of artillery > [noun] > battery
battery1555
counter-battery1603
swallow's nest1604
field battery1742
radeau1753
guns en barbette1772
half-moon battery1794
sap battery1810
sunken battery1817
screw battery1848
wool-battery1852
masked battery1861
mountain battery1868
machine-gun battery1882
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. i. xx. 41 Provided with a counter-battery of forcible enchantments.
1667 London Gaz. No. 170/2 They raised a battery of five great guns against the Town, which were dismounted by a Counterbattery of seven guns.
1838 Penny Cycl. X. 375/1 That the guns..might be..concealed from the view of the enemy in his counter-battery.
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1643 C. Herle Answer to Fernes Reply 48 He would never have begun this unhappy counterbattery of inke.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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