ammunition English · revision 15051

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1607|origins=la mūniō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌæm.jəˈnɪʃ.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|amunition]], also [[m|frm|amonition]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from a mistaken division of la munition, the munitions, as if it were l'amunition, perhaps influenced by the French word for a warning.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021)^(NODE 1998)^(MWU 2024) The French word is from [[la|mūnītiō|t=a fortifying]] (see [[munition]]).^(Etymonline) French later corrected the error, but English kept it, with a double m to match Latin words.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Military stores or supplies of all kinds: 1607 in Merriam-Webster, before 1626, in Francis Bacon, in Barnhart and the OED.^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The verb, to supply with ammunition, is from 1644, and figurative uses from 1645.^(OED 1989) ''Ammunition boots'' and ''bread'', supplied to soldiers, are from before 1658.^(OED 1989) In modern use the word means only material fired from weapons.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1607 – ammunition.^(MWU 2024)

+ * before 1626 – military stores.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1644 – to ammunition (verb).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1645 – figurative ammunition.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Projectiles, such as bullets and shells, with their fuses and primers, that can be fired from weapons.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Bombs, missiles and chemical, biological or nuclear materials used as weapons.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Anything used in attack or defence, as in an argument.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ammo]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[munition]]

+ * [[munitions]]

+ * [[muniment]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}