War Terms
Ms. Lecount's list of terms to know for our unit on war and literature.
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Explore the Words
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adjutant
an officer who acts as an assistant to a more senior officer
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aide-de-camp
an officer who acts as an assistant to a more senior officer
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artillery
large but transportable armament
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barricade
a barrier to impede the advance of an enemy
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bayonet
a knife fixed to the end of a rifle and used as a weapon
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blockade
a war measure isolating an area of importance to the enemy
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civil
of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
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regiment
army unit smaller than a division
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cadence
the accent in a metrical foot of verse
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quarter
one of four equal parts
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capitulate
surrender under agreed conditions
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breech
opening in the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded
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cavalry
troops trained to fight on horseback
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battle
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces
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lieutenant
a commissioned military officer
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corporal
affecting the body as opposed to the mind or spirit
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convoy
the act of escorting while in transit
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echelon
level of authority in a hierarchy
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emancipate
free from slavery or servitude
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servitude
state of subjection to an owner or master
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skirmish
a minor short-term fight
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furlough
a temporary leave of absence, especially from military duty
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accoutrement
accessory or supplementary item of equipment or clothing
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ration
a fixed portion that is allotted
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holster
a sheath for carrying a handgun
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trajectory
the path followed by an object moving through space
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projectile
a weapon that is forcibly propelled toward a target
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infantry
an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
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chaplain
a member of the clergy ministering to some institution
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parley
a negotiation between enemies
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reveille
a signal, usually a bugle call, to get up in the morning
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ricochet
spring back; spring away from an impact
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obtuse
of an angle, between 90 and 180 degrees
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roster
a list of names
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reinforcement
an act performed to strengthen approved behavior
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peddler
someone who travels about selling wares
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tactics
a plan for attaining a particular goal
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ally
a friendly nation
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alliance
the state of being confederated
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ottoman
a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
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espionage
the systematic use of spies to obtain secrets
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statute
an act passed by a legislative body
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invade
march aggressively into a territory by military force
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plunder
steal goods; take as spoils
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claim
assert or affirm strongly
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blitzkrieg
a military offensive with intensive aerial bombardment
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bombardment
an attack by dropping explosive devices
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detain
cause to be slowed down or delayed
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coercion
using force to cause something to occur
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fascist
an adherent of right-wing authoritarian views
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insurgent
in opposition to a civil authority or government
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regime
the governing authority of a political unit
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rebel
someone who exhibits independence in thought and action
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revolutionary
markedly new or introducing radical change
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loot
goods or money obtained illegally
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neutrality
nonparticipation in a dispute or war
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dominate
be in control
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antiaircraft
designed for defense from land against air attack
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maritime
relating to ships or navigation
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ambush
concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise
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detonate
cause to burst with a violent release of energy
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contraband
distributed or sold illicitly
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memorial
a recognition of meritorious service
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commemorate
call to remembrance
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code
a set of rules or principles or laws
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confinement
the state of being enclosed
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stockade
fortification consisting of a fence set firmly for defense
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combative
having or showing a ready disposition to fight
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defend
protect against a challenge or attack
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veteran
a person who has served in the armed forces
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strategic
relating to an elaborate and systematic plan of action
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nuclear
constituting the core or central part
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deterrence
a negative motivational influence
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retaliation
action taken in return for an injury or offense
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adaptable
capable of fitting a particular situation or use
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altitude
elevation above sea level or above the earth's surface
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marine
of or relating to the sea
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transport
move something or somebody around
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grunt
issue a low, animal-like noise
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refugee
an exile who flees for safety
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flee
run away quickly
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boatswain
a petty officer on a merchant ship
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coxswain
the helmsman of a ship's boat or a racing crew
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squelch
suppress or crush completely
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detonation
the act of setting off an explosive
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antenna
one of a pair of mobile appendages on the head of insects
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plateau
a relatively flat highland
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region
the extended spatial location of something
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device
an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
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fragment
a piece broken off or cut off of something else
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perimeter
a line enclosing a plane area
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unorthodox
breaking with convention or tradition
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rural
living in or characteristic of farming or country life
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honorary
given as an award without the normal duties
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ambassador
a diplomat of the highest rank
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namesake
a person with the same name as another
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morale
a state of individual psychological well-being
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indigenous
originating where it is found
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maneuver
a military training exercise
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courage
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain
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hull
dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
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specialist
an expert devoted to one occupation or branch of learning
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sergeant
a noncommissioned officer ranking above a corporal
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evasion
the act of physically escaping from something
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extraction
taking out something
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withdrawal
the act of pulling back
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subordinate
an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
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convalescent
returning to health after illness or debility
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reconnaissance
the act of scouting, especially to gain information
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pioneer
one the first colonists or settlers in a new territory
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shrapnel
shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight
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euphemism
an inoffensive expression substituted for an offensive one
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derogatory
expressive of low opinion
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interpret
make sense of; assign a meaning to
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treacherous
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
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hamlet
a community of people smaller than a village
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municipality
a local district having powers of self-government
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struggle
strenuous effort
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offensive
unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses
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utility
the quality of being of practical use
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yield
give or supply
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encrypt
convert ordinary language into code
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antitank
designed for defense against armored vehicles
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logistics
supplying an operation with labor and materials as needed
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crater
a bowl-shaped geological formation at the top of a volcano
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supercede
take the place or move into the position of
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candidate
someone who is considered for something
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infrastructure
the basic features of a system or organization
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cadre
a nucleus of military personnel capable of expansion
Created on April 12, 2013
(updated April 18, 2013)
(updated April 18, 2013)