battering ram

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word battering ram. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word battering ram, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say battering ram in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word battering ram you have here. The definition of the word battering ram will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofbattering ram, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

The heads of some battering rams were carved in the shape of a ram, an animal renowned for butting with its head.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

battering ram (plural battering rams)

  1. (historical) A heavy object used for battering down walls and gates or a siege engine that includes such an object.
  2. A modern device, usually in the form of a metal bar with handles, chiefly used by police and firefighters to force open locked doors.
    Synonym: (UK) enforcer
  3. (figuratively) Something which acts as a powerful tool against something.
    • 1982 December 11, Frances Russell, “Economic performance buoys Pawley’s position”, in The Vancouver Sun (The Weekend Sun), Vancouver, BC, page A6:
      And in the edition of their party newspaper released last week, [the Tories] pledged to Manitobans that they would continue their battering ram approach this time around.
    • 2023 January 6, Peter Wehner, “The GOP Is a Battering Ram Against Truth”, in The Atlantic‎:
      That was expected, I suppose, because during the Trump era, the GOP was a battering ram against truth and reality.

Translations

References

  • The Manual of Heraldry, Fifth Edition, by Anonymous, London, 1862, online at

Further reading

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia