land-mine
UK[ˈlænd maɪn]US[ˈlænd maɪn]
n
An explosive device placed in or on the ground, designed to be detonated by the pressure, proximity, or contact of a person or vehicle.
Morpheme Breakdown
land
mine
land
ground
mine
explosive device
Etymology
The compound 'land-mine' is a relatively modern military term. The word 'land' has ancient Germanic roots, from Proto-Germanic landą, meaning 'ground' or 'earth'. 'Mine' entered English from French, originally from a Celtic source related to tunneling, and evolved to mean an explosive charge. The compound logically combines these elements to specify a type of explosive device designed for use on or under the ground, as opposed to a naval mine used at sea. Its formation follows the common English pattern of creating precise technical terms through noun-noun compounding.
Analysis
Structure: land (ground) + mine (explosive device)
land: Old English origin, meaning 'ground, soil, territory'. In this compound, it specifies the location.
mine: From Middle French 'mine', referring an explosive device or a tunnel for explosives. In this compound, it specifies the object's function.
Examples
The army has been clearing land-mines from the former battlefield for years.
Stepping on a land-mine can cause catastrophic injuries.
International treaties seek to ban the use of anti-personnel land-mines.