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Added 9 October 2026

missile

/ˈmɪs.aɪl/ noun

In Latin: missile Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about missile at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control.
A weapon that is forcibly thrown or projected at a targets but is not self-propelled.

Origin

From Latin missile (“thrown weapon, projectile”), neuter of missilis (“throwable, capable of being thrown”), from mittere (“to send”). From 1611. Compare Middle French missile (“projectile”), from 1636.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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