The AI-powered English dictionary
plural bombardiers
(Canada, US) A bomber crew member who sights and releases bombs. quotations examples
The bombardier then checked the gyroscopic stabilization of the bombsight and clutched in the electrical motor.
1990, Charles W McArthur, Operations Analysis in the U.S. Army Eighth Air Force in World War II, American Mathematical Society, page 142
(Canada, Britain) A non-commissioned officer rank in artillery, equivalent to corporal. Abbreviated Bdr. examples
An artilleryman; a gunner. quotations examples
[…] the officer to whom the command was deputed, to the amusement of a German bombardier, ordered one of the largest cannons to be placed under the gate of a fortress […]
1852, R. H. Major, “Notes Upon Russia”, in Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, translation of original by Sigismund von Herberstein, page 98
He has known for ages why a sturdy bombardier rides alongside the officer at the head of each battery, and why he is given a special name.
1982, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, translated by Patrick Miles and Harvey Pitcher, Early Stories, Oxford University Press
In 1687, with notorious effects, Morosini attacked Athens: the Turks were using the Parthenon as a powder-store, and the German bombardiers blew it up.
2001, Martin Garrett, Venice, page 37
(entomology) A bombardier beetle.