Definition

The chaotic pieces of exploded shells that go flying in all directions, named after a British general who invented the shell that creates it. Fragments of a bursting shell or explosive, scattered by the blast.

Example Usage

The explosion sent shrapnel across the compound, wounding several soldiers.

Origin

Military ordnance term; named after Maj. Henry Shrapnel, 1784

Fun Fact

Modern body armor is designed to stop shrapnel specifically, making it one of the more common injuries it's meant to prevent.

Source: Military Weapons and Wound Ballistics

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squadron

A military unit that sounds way cooler than it actually is—essentially a group of cavalry, aircraft, or naval vessels organized under one command. Originally referred to troops arranged in a square formation, because apparently military tactics and geometry were once inseparable. Size varies wildly by branch and era, keeping military organizational charts eternally confusing.

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