English

the use of a petard

Alternative forms

• pettard

Noun

petard ‎(plural petards)

1. (historical) A small, hat-shaped explosive device, used to blow a hole in a door or wall.
2. Anything potentially explosive, in a non-literal sense.
   • (Can we date this quote?), Shakespeare, Hamlet

     For tis the sport to haue the enginer / Hoist with his owne petar

3. (now rare) A loud firecracker.

Derived terms

• hoist by one's own petard

Translations

Verb

petard ‎(third-person singular simple present petards, present participle petarding, simple past and past participle petarded)

1. (now rare, archaic) To attack or blow a hole in (something) with a petard.
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, I.56:

     The souldier, if he but goe to besiege a cottage, to scale a castle, to rob a church, to pettard [transl. petarder] a gate, to force a religious house, or any villanous act, before he attempt it praieth to God for his assistance, though his intents and hopes be full-fraught with crueltie, murther, covetise, luxurie, sacrilege, and all iniquitie.

Translations

Anagrams

• depart
• parted
• prated
• tarped

Polish

Noun

petard f

1. genitive plural of petarda

Swedish

Etymology

From French pétard, used since 1600.

Noun

petard c

1. a petard (small bomb)
2. a petard (firecracker)

Declension

Related terms

• petardera
• petardör

Synonyms

bomb

• sprängmina

firecracker

• knallsignal
• svärmare

References

• petard in Svenska Akademiens ordbok online.