shrapnel: The term shrapnel commemorates the name of General Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), a British artillery officer who in the course of the Peninsular War, at the beginning of the 19th century, invented an exploding shell that sent bullets flying in all directions
shrapnel (n.)
1806, from Gen. Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), who invented a type of exploding, fragmenting shell when he was a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery during the Peninsular War. The invention consisted of a hollow cannon ball, filled with shot, which burst in mid-air; his name for it was spherical case ammunition. Sense of "shell fragments" is first recorded 1940. The surname is attested from 13c., and is believed to be a metathesized form of Charbonnel, a diminutive form of Old French charbon "charcoal," in reference to complexion, hair color, or some other quality.
实用例句
1. He was wounded in both legs and severely peppered with shrapnel.
他两条腿都挂彩了，人也被如雨的弹片炸成重伤。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The driver of an evacuation bus was wounded by shrapnel.
一辆疏散大巴的司机被弹片炸伤。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He was hit by shrapnel from a grenade.
他被手榴弹的弹片击中了。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He was hit in the arm by flying shrapnel.
他被流弹片打中了手臂.
来自《简明英汉词典》
5. The bomb exploded, sending shrapnel whistling through the trees.
