artillery
n. uncountablen. large, heavy guns that are moved on wheels or fixed in one place. Soldiers use them to fire at targets from a long distance.
n. large-calibre guns used in warfare on land, such as cannons, howitzers, and missile launchers. Often used collectively to refer to the branch of an army that operates such weaponry.
The army moved the heavy artillery to the front line.
The sound of distant artillery echoed through the valley as the two armies prepared for a long battle.
Modern military strategy often relies on precision-guided artillery to neutralize enemy positions before ground troops attempt to advance across open terrain.
From Middle English artillerie, from Old French artillerie (“collection of military engines, crossbows, lances etc.”), from artillier (“to equip, provide with contraptions”), alteration of atiller (“to arrange, adjust, put on clothes or, especially, pieces of armour”) (influenced by art), itself from Vulgar Latin apticlō < *apticulō, from Latin aptō (“to make capable”).
Usually functions as a collective uncountable noun; it can refer to the weapons themselves or the military unit that uses them.