Artillery refers to large, powerful weapons that shoot shells over long distances, such as cannons and big guns. It can also mean the military units that operate these weapons.
From Old French “artillerie” meaning “equipment” or “engines of war,” related to “artillier” meaning “to equip.” The term narrowed to mean large guns and their use.
Artillery is the thunder of the battlefield, attacking enemies you can’t even see. In modern wars, these distant explosions often cause more damage than the soldiers who actually see one another.
Artillery units and heavy weapons have been framed as quintessentially masculine military roles, with language and imagery centering male soldiers and commanders. Women’s participation in artillery support, calculation, manufacturing, and in some cases operation has often been minimized or omitted.
Use gender-neutral terms like "artillery crew" or "artillery personnel" and avoid assuming all artillery operators are men. In historical or contemporary accounts, include women’s roles where documented.
["artillery units","heavy weapons","fire support"]
Women have served in artillery-related roles in various conflicts, including as spotters, calculators, and sometimes gunners, yet their contributions rarely appear in mainstream military histories.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.