SELECT * from dictionary_eng WHERE word = "battering ram" OR word = "Battering ram" OR word = "Battering Ram" battering ram | Definition of battering ram
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battering ram

noun

Definition of battering ram

1 : a military siege engine consisting of a large wooden beam with a head of iron used in ancient times to beat down the walls of a besieged place
2 : a heavy metal bar with handles used (as by firefighters) to batter down doors and walls

Examples of battering ram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Once a flash mob has decided to occupy a location, demonstrators armed with pliers and plastic zip ties deconstruct metal sidewalk barriers and tie them together, turning them into battering rams or defensive ramparts. — Matt Bradley, NBC News, "As Hong Kong protests turn violent, one man fights to preserve middle ground," 24 Aug. 2019 But those are too late for players of Buoniconti’s generation, who were led by coaches who used them as battering rams and scoffed at their injuries. — Ken Belson, New York Times, "Nick Buoniconti Got the Best and the Worst of Football," 2 Aug. 2019 On Monday, as activists armed with metal bars and makeshift battering rams were on the cusp of breaking down the doors of the Legislative Council, a group of veteran politicians sympathetic to their cause pleaded with them to reconsider. — Javier C. Hernández, New York Times, "Hong Kong Protesters Storm Legislature, Dividing the Movement," 1 July 2019 The crowd, comprised of mostly young protesters, could be seen on video using a cargo cart and large poles as battering rams against the glass panel of the legislative building. — Fox News, "China says Hong Kong protesters' storming of government building 'totally intolerable'," 3 July 2019 Some used metal poles as battering rams and broke through the glass doors. — Time Staff, Time, "On the Anniversary of Its Return to Chinese Sovereignty, Hong Kong Flies the Rebel Flag," 1 July 2019 Young, masked protesters used metal bars and trolleys as battering rams to try to break the doors of headquarters as riot police watched from the inside. — Doug Criss, CNN, "5 things to know for July 1: Hong Kong, Trump, Sudan, Texas plane crash, alcohol," 1 July 2019 Meanwhile, battering ram striker Salomon Rondon is set to leave the Baggies, with Newcastle United 'closing in' on a deal to sign the 28-year-old. — SI.com, "Former Man Utd Defender Training With West Brom & Featured in Pre-Season Friendly Win," 9 July 2018 But as the fight wore on, Salka was defenseless against Varga’s battering ram punches. — Fox News, "Boxer wearing 'America 1st' border wall trunks crumbles against Mexican opponent," 14 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'battering ram.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of battering ram

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for battering ram

battering ram

noun

English Language Learners Definition of battering ram

: a large and heavy piece of wood or other material that is used to hit and break through walls and doors

See the full definition for battering ram in the English Language Learners Dictionary

battering ram

noun
bat·​ter·​ing ram | \ ˈba-tə-riŋ-\

Kids Definition of battering ram

1 : an ancient military machine that consisted of a heavy beam with an iron tip swung back and forth in order to batter down walls
2 : a heavy metal bar with handles used (as by firefighters) to break down doors or walls

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