land mine

land mine
Torpedo Tor*pe"do, n.; pl. {Torpedoes}. [L. torpedo, -inis, from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid. See {Torpid}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch fishes belonging to {Torpedo} and allied genera. They are related to the rays, but have the power of giving electrical shocks. Called also {crampfish}, and {numbfish}. See {Electrical fish}, under {Electrical}. [1913 Webster]

Note: The common European torpedo ({Torpedo vulgaris}) and the American species ({Torpedo occidentalis}) are the best known. [1913 Webster]

2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them up; a mine[4]. Specifically: [1913 Webster +PJC] (a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel, beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so designed that they will explode when touched or approached by a vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by an operator on shore; now called {marine mine}. [obsolete] [1913 Webster +PJC]

Damn the torpedoes -- full speed ahead! --Adm. David Glasgow Farragut (At the battle of Mobile Bay, 1864). (b) A kind of small submarine boat carrying an explosive charge, and projected from a ship against another ship at a distance, or made self-propelling, and otherwise automatic in its action against a distant ship. [1913 Webster]

3. (Mil.) A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be exploded by electricity or by stepping on it; now called {land mine}. [obsolete] [1913 Webster +PJC]

4. (Railroad) A kind of detonating cartridge or shell placed on a rail, and exploded when crushed under the locomotive wheels, -- used as an alarm signal. [1913 Webster]

5. An explosive cartridge or shell lowered or dropped into a bored oil well, and there exploded, to clear the well of obstructions or to open communication with a source of supply of oil. [1913 Webster]

6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet, which explodes when thrown upon a hard object. [1913 Webster]

7. An automobile with a {torpedo body}. [Archaic Cant] [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

{Fish torpedo}, a spindle-shaped, or fish-shaped, self-propelling submarine torpedo.

{Spar torpedo}, a canister or other vessel containing an explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar which projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo.

{Torpedo boat}, a vessel adapted for carrying, launching, operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against an enemy's ship., especially, a small, fast boat with tubes for launching torpedoes.

{Torpedo nettings}, nettings made of chains or bars, which can be suspended around a vessel and allowed to sink beneath the surface of the water, as a protection against torpedoes. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • land mine — n. An explosive device laid on the surface of the earth or hidden just underneath it, intended to explode when a person or vehicle touches it. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell …   Law dictionary

  • land mine — land′ mine n. mil an explosive charge concealed just under the surface of the ground or of a roadway, designed to be detonated by pressure, proximity of a vehicle or person, etc • Etymology: 1885–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • land mine — n. an explosive charge hidden under the surface of the ground and detonated as by pressure upon it …   English World dictionary

  • Land mine — For other uses, see Land mine (disambiguation). Minefield redirects here. For other uses, see Minefield (disambiguation). Examples of anti personnel mines. From left to right: an M14, Valmara 69 (a bounding mine), and VS 50 …   Wikipedia

  • land mine — noun an explosive mine hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven over • Syn: ↑ground emplaced mine, ↑booby trap • Hypernyms: ↑mine • Hyponyms: ↑bouncing betty, ↑claymore mine, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Land mine contamination in Bosnia and Herzegovina — is a serious after effect of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina which raged from 1992 until 1995. All combatants laid land mines during the war and as a result Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the most severe land mine problems in the world.Land… …   Wikipedia

  • Land mine situation in Nagorno Karabakh — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Landmines in Nagorno Karabakh caption= HALO deminers clearing anti tank mines date=1991–1994 place=Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, and Azerbaijan result=Thousands of mines laid by both sides. Till present mines still …   Wikipedia

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  • Land mine (disambiguation) — A land mine is an explosive device.Land mine may also refer to: * Land mine (drinking game), an American drinking game * Landmine (Transformers), several characters in the Transformers universe * Landmine, the developer code name for Mozilla… …   Wikipedia

  • Land mine (drinking game) — Infobox Game subject name=Land mine subtitle = image link = players = 3+ setup time = 2 minutes playing time = As long/short as players choose complexity = Medium strategy = Medium random chance = Easy skills = Quarter spinningLand mine is a… …   Wikipedia

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