broadside etymology

Etymology:

  • From Middle English "brodesyde," meaning "the side of a ship."
  • The term originally referred to the side of a ship that was exposed to the wind, and thus to enemy fire.

Meaning:

A broadside is a simultaneous discharge of all the guns on one side of a ship.

Origin:

The term was first used in the 15th century to describe a type of naval warfare in which ships maneuvered to present their broadsides to enemy ships and fire their cannons simultaneously. This tactic gave ships a significant advantage in firepower, as it allowed them to concentrate their guns on a single target.

Over time, the term "broadside" came to be used more generally to refer to any simultaneous discharge of several weapons, such as a broadside of missiles or artillery. The term is also used in other contexts, such as in journalism, where it refers to a printed sheet of paper containing various articles or notices.

broadside relate terms

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  • hillside

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  • bill

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  • flyer

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  • fire

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