Word of the Day – Shrapnel

Shrapnel (noun)

sh-rap-nel

Fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object thrown out by an explosion.

(British Informal) Small change

Early 19th century named after General Henry Shrapnel (1761–1842), the British soldier who invented the shell; the sense ‘fragments of a bomb or shell’ originated during the First World War.

Example sentences

“He was killed by a piece of shrapnel, even though the bomb missed him.”

“All i got for my troubles was a hangover and a pocket full of shrapnel.”