fusillade
/ˌfjuːzɪˈleɪd
/ /ˌfjuːzɪˈlɑːd/noun
A series of shots fired or missiles thrown all at the same time or in quick succession: marchers had to dodge a fusillade of missiles...
- A deadly fusillade of slaved ACP missiles raced out at the Destroyer's bridge tower.
- A fusillade of cruise missiles had been launched from four US cruisers and a submarine, and a supporting British sub.
- On 26 August 1944 he walked down the Champs Elysées to the acclamation of a vast crowd, and then went on to Notre Dame, where he stood unmoved when a sudden fusillade broke out inside the cathedral.
Synonyms
salvo, volley, barrage, bombardment, cannonade, battery, burst, blast, hail, shower, rain, stream, broadside, blitz, discharge
verb [with object] archaic
Fire a fusillade at (a place or person): the Mahdi’s adherents fusilladed his palace at Khartoum...
- They went into hiding in Katlijk, but where betrayed and fusilladed by the German oppressor.
- Thousands of people were fusilladed without any form of trial.
- Most of the members - including Sam - were sentenced to death and fusilladed in the early morning of 1 July 1443 in the Dunes of Overveen.
Origin
Early 19th century: from French, from fusiller 'to shoot', from fusil (see fusil1).