grenade
UK[ɡrəˈneɪd]US[ɡrəˈneɪd]
n
A small bomb thrown by hand or launched from a rifle.
n
A container filled with a chemical agent (such as tear gas) that is designed to be thrown and release its contents.
Etymology
The word 'grenade' has a vivid etymological journey rooted in resemblance. It entered English in the 16th century from French, where 'grenade' meant both "pomegranate" and the explosive weapon. This dual meaning stems from the Latin 'malum granatum', literally "seeded apple," referring to the pomegranate fruit. The early explosive shells, filled with shrapnel or incendiary material, were thought to resemble the shape and seed-scattering nature of a bursting pomegranate. Thus, the modern abstract meaning of a small, thrown explosive device evolved directly from this metaphorical comparison to the fruit's form and function.
Analysis
The word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzable unit in English. Its ultimate origin is from the Latin 'granatum' (pomegranate), via Old French 'grenate' and later 'grenade'. It functions as a simplex noun.
Examples
The soldier pulled the pin and threw the grenade into the bunker.
Police used a tear gas grenade to disperse the crowd.
In video games, grenades are often a key part of a player's arsenal.