collateral damage

collateral damage
Collateral Col*lat"er*al, a. [LL. collateralis; col- + lateralis lateral. See {Lateral}.] 1. Coming from, being on, or directed toward, the side; as, collateral pressure. ``Collateral light.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Acting in an indirect way. [1913 Webster]

If by direct or by collateral hand They find us touched, we will our kingdom give . . . To you in satisfaction. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Related to, but not strictly a part of, the main thing or matter under consideration; hence, subordinate; not chief or principal; as, collateral interest; collateral issues. [1913 Webster]

That he [Attebury] was altogether in the wrong on the main question, and on all the collateral questions springing out of it, . . . is true. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

4. Tending toward the same conclusion or result as something else; additional; as, collateral evidence. [1913 Webster]

Yet the attempt may give Collateral interest to this homely tale. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]

5. (Genealogy) Descending from the same stock or ancestor, but not in the same line or branch or one from the other; -- opposed to lineal. [1913 Webster]

Note: Lineal descendants proceed one from another in a direct line; collateral relations spring from a common ancestor, but from different branches of that common stirps or stock. Thus the children of brothers are collateral relations, having different fathers, but a common grandfather. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

{Collateral assurance}, that which is made, over and above the deed itself.

{Collateral circulation} (Med. & Physiol.), circulation established through indirect or subordinate branches when the supply through the main vessel is obstructed.

{Collateral issue}. (Law) (a) An issue taken upon a matter aside from the merits of the case. (b) An issue raised by a criminal convict who pleads any matter allowed by law in bar of execution, as pardon, diversity of person, etc. (c) A point raised, on cross-examination, aside from the issue fixed by the pleadings, as to which the answer of the witness, when given, cannot subsequently be contradicted by the party asking the question.

{Collateral security}, security for the performance of covenants, or the payment of money, besides the principal security.

{collateral damage}, (Mil.) damage caused by a military operation, such as a bombing, to objects or persons not themselves the intended target of the attack. [1913 Webster +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Collateral Damage — Título Daño colateral (España, Colombia y Perú) Riesgos colaterales (Argentina) Ficha técnica Dirección Andrew Davis …   Wikipedia Español

  • collateral damage — Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • Collateral Damage — bezeichnet Collateral Damage – Zeit der Vergeltung, einen Film Begleitschaden, Militärbegriff Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Begriffe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • collateral damage — is a heavily disguised technical term, in effect a euphemism, used by the military and by politicians for civilian casualties in war. It is based on a sense of collateral (itself derived from Latin latus ‘side’) dating from Chaucer, ‘lying aside… …   Modern English usage

  • collateral damage — by 1873 in legal cases; in modern use, generally a euphemism for the coincidental killing of civilians, U.S. coinage, c.1968, at first generally with reference to nuclear weapons …   Etymology dictionary

  • Collateral damage — For other uses, see Collateral damage (disambiguation). Collateral damage is damage to people or property that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome.[1] The phrase is prevalently used as an euphemism for civilian casualties of a… …   Wikipedia

  • collateral damage — N UNCOUNT Collateral damage is accidental injury to non military people or damage to non military buildings which occurs during a military operation. To minimize collateral damage maximum precision in bombing was required …   English dictionary

  • collateral damage —    Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • collateral damage —    killing or wounding civilians by mistake    Literally, damage running alongside:    What an odd term, he thought. Collateral damage. What an off hand way of condemning people whom fate had selected to be in the wrong place. (Clancy, 1989) …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • Collateral damage —   Accidental or unintended damage or casualties are collateral damage …   Dictionary of English idioms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”