Grenade

A grenade is a small bomb typically thrown by hand. A variety of hand grenades exist, the most common being explosive grenades designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time. Originally, Grenadiers were the soldiers who specialised in throwing grenades.

Etymology

Grenade, meaning "small explosive shell," was thrown rather than discharged from a cannon, comes from Old French grenate and later from 16th century Middle French pomegranate. The multi-seeded fruit suggested similarities to the powder-filled, fragmenting bomb. The term was used extensively during the 17th century, phasing out out of use by the 18th century. It saw a revival in the 20th century, especially during the First and Second World Wars. Its first use in English dates from the 1590s.

References / notes

The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War.

This compendium forms the central hub of words, phrases, people, and places relative to the Great War period of 1914–1918. These also include battles, political events, ships, trench slang, British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use, nicknames, sobriquets, the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins, and also warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.

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