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Added 10 October 2026

strafe

/ˈstɹeɪ̯f/ noun

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

An attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane.
the next morning they carried out a strafe of enemy airfields

verb

Attack with machine guns or cannon fire from a low-flying plane.
civilians were strafed in an effort to force the country's surrender

Origin

Borrowed from German strafe (“punish”) (a conjugated form of strafen), from phrases like Gott strafe England (“God punish England”) which the British saw during the First World War.

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

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