ammunition

From older French amunition, rebracketing of la munition (“the war supplies”) as l’amunition. Ultimately from Latin; see munition for more.

• IPA^(key): /ˌæmjuˈnɪʃən/

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ammunition (countable and uncountable, plural ammunitions)

1. Articles used in charging firearms and ordnance of all kinds; as powder, balls, shot, shells, percussion caps, rockets, etc.

   Synonym: ammo

2. (obsolete) Military stores, or provisions of all kinds for attack or defense.

   ammunition bread

   ammunition shoes

3. (figurative) Arguments and information that can be used against the other party in a conflict.
   • 1938, American Lumberman, page 52:

     They say that the booklet gives them ammunition which is proving effective in breaking down resistance against home building which was created by false propaganda.

   • 1960, America, Volume 104, America Press, page 697:

     As long as the integration fight is in progress, some Southerners are willing to believe anything if it gives them ammunition in their fight to "retain our traditional way of life." If you have any wise bits of philosophy, please pass them along.

   • 2005, Blanche Woolls, David V. Loertscher, The Whole School Library Handbook, American Library Association, →ISBN, page 146:

     Providing your administrator(s) with evidence of research progress gives them ammunition to request additional funds from the site-based management pool.

   • 2010, Joan Kloth-Zanard, Where Did I Go Wrong? How Did I Miss the Signs? Dealing with Hostile Parenting & Parental Alienation, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 109:

     The first thing to do is NOT constantly defend and argue with the ex or the children. It gives them ammunition and fuels their engines to come after you. In addition, you are just giving them more to use against you.

   • 2017 February 27, Mure Dickie, Henry Mance, “Theresa May’s speech to head off Scottish independence poll”, in Financial Times‎:

     However, preventing a vote from taking place could give ammunition to the SNP, which argues that Scotland’s view carries little weight in the union.

ammunition (third-person singular simple present ammunitions, present participle ammunitioning, simple past and past participle ammunitioned)

1. To supply with ammunition.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

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ammunition c

1. ammunition