Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Small missiles, especially grape, canister, fragments of iron, and the like, when fired, as upon an enemy at close quarters.
  • To fire mitraille at.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Shot or bits of iron used sometimes in loading cannon.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun military, historical shot or bits of iron used sometimes in loading cannon

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French mitaille "small coins," hence "scrap iron, old iron," then "grapeshot;" originally diminutive of mite "a small coin." Also see mitrailleur.

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Examples

Comments

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  • see also mitrailleuse

    March 2, 2015

  • I find two pronunciations proposed for mitraille. It can be "mit try," which honors the French origin and is consistent with the more familiar mitrailleuse. Another source supports "my trail," a brutal Anglicization which might be no more than a desperate guess.

    March 6, 2015

  • When gas in the outhouse builds high
    Its contents become like mitraille.
    If it will amuse,
    Put match to a fuse:
    Take cover and watch the shit fly.

    March 6, 2015