bomb English · revision 4284

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1588|origins=grc βόμβος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /bɒm/, US /bɑːm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|bombe]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[it|bomba]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) probably from [[la|bombus|t=a deep, hollow noise; a buzzing or booming sound]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|βόμβος|tr=bómbos|t=deep hollow sound, booming, humming]], of imitative origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) so probably named from the sound it makes.^(Etymonline) An earlier bome, 1588, translated Spanish bomba in a history of China.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster Unabridged traces the Romance words in part to an echoic base bomb-, as in Greek bómbos and Old Norse bumba “drum”.^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[boom]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An explosive projectile, at first a hollow iron ball filled with gunpowder and fired from a mortar: 1684 in the OED and Barnhart,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the 1580s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The first bombs were what would now be called shells,^(Cresswell 2021) and the casings were called ''bombshells'' from 1708,^(Barnhart 1988) the early 18th century in Word Origins, before the word came to mean a sudden surprise or an attractive woman.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, to fire bombs at, is from 1688;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline notes that the Century Dictionary marked it archaic in 1889 before its revival in the 20th century.^(Etymonline) The modern sense of an explosive device placed by hand or dropped from an aircraft is from 1909,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''bomber'' from 1915.^(Barnhart 1988) ''The bomb'', the atomic bomb, is from 1945 in Barnhart and Etymonline, but 1932 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In slang it meant a success from 1954 and, especially in American use, a failure from 1961 or 1963;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the verb ''bomb'', to fail, is from 1963,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''bombed'', drunk, from 1956,^(Etymonline) and late 1990s slang ''the bomb'', the best, is probably a new formation.^(Etymonline) An old car is from 1953.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1588 – a ball of wildfire, translating Spanish.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1684 – an explosive shell.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1688 – verb, to bombard.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1708 – ''bombshell''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1909 – a placed or dropped explosive device.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1915 – ''bomber''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1945 – ''the bomb'', the atomic bomb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1954 – a success.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1963 – verb, to fail.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[explosive]] weapon set off by impact, a timer or other means.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''the bomb'': the atomic or nuclear bomb, or nuclear weapons in general.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A container that releases its contents under pressure, such as an aerosol.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In American football, a long forward pass.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' A complete failure, especially a play or film.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' A great success, as in ''go like a bomb''; also a large sum of money.^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(slang)'' ''the bomb'': something excellent.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To attack or destroy with bombs; to [[bombard]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' To fail completely.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' To move very fast.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bombing]]

+ * [[bombable]]

+ * [[A-bomb]]

+ * [[bomblet]]

+ * [[bombload]]

+ * [[bombsight]]

+ * [[firebomb]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bomber]]

+ * [[bombshell]]

+ * [[bombard]]

+ * [[boom]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}