Bayonet
/ˈbeɪənɛt/
nounIntermediate📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
A long, pointed blade attached to the end of a rifle.
/ˈbeɪənɛt/
nounneutralIntermediate
General
A blade that can be fixed to the barrel of a rifle.
The soldier brandished his bayonet.
💡 Simply: A knife attached to a gun.
More Examples
2
Bayonets were common weapons in the trenches of World War I.
How It's Used
Military
"The soldiers fixed bayonets before charging the enemy."
From French *bayonnette*, from Bayonne, a city in southwestern France where it was supposedly invented in the late 17th century.
Bayonets have been used in warfare since the 17th century, significantly influencing infantry tactics.
Memory tip
Think of 'bay' (as in a body of water) and 'net' - a bayonet is like a net extended from a rifle to attack.
Word Origin
LanguageFrench
Original meaning
"From Bayonne, a city in France, where it was supposedly first produced."
fix bayonetsbayonet charge
Common misspellings
bayonet
Practice
Usage
10%Spoken
90%Written