Dictionary of military terms and obsolete words. War words and expressions Words related to war and hostilities

Not the most cheerful information, but in the last fifty centuries the world has only been at absolute peace for about 300 years. This is not surprising, because even now we constantly receive information about conflicts and wars from all over the world. To better understand the news and information regarding this topic, I have collected the most common military words and expressions for you.

Branches of Army (Types of armies).

• Ground forces - ground forces. It is a type of armed forces of many countries.
• Marine Corps - Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is a branch of the Navy.
• Navy - Navy. And the Navy is the name of the naval armed forces, which includes all relevant units.
• Air force - air force.

Ranks (titles).

Officers are military personnel who have received appropriate higher education and undergone special training. By rank, officers can be:

• General - general. The highest level of military rank.
• Admiral - admiral. This is the same as general, only the rank refers to officers of the Navy.
• Colonel - Colonel. The person holding this military rank leads the regiment.
• Major - major. This is the first of the senior officer ranks.
• Captain - captain. Rank in the army, navy and air force.
• Lieutenant - lieutenant. Junior officer rank.

Enlisted (conscripts):

• Sergeant - sergeant. The rank of soldier (mercenary) junior command staff of the armed forces.
• Corporal - corporal. This is the head of the team, namely the military rank of junior command, the lowest non-commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of some countries.
• Private - private. The first and lowest military rank in the Armed Forces of many states.

Insignia (insignia).

• POW (prisoner of war) - prisoner of war
• KIA (killed in action) - killed in action
• MIA (missing in action) – missing person

Weapons (weapons).

• RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) - hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher
• IED (improvised explosive device) - improvised explosive device
• Rocket - rocket
• Missile - rocket
• Mortar – mortar
• Bullet - bullet
• Grenade - grenade

Ceasefire (ceasefire).

• Truce - truce
• Treaty - negotiations
• UNSE (The United Nations Security Council) – United Nations Security Council

Other military words and expressions (other military words and expressions).

• Boot camp – military training camp
• Drill sergeant - drill sergeant
• Troops - troops
• Guerilla - guerrilla
• Militant (Militia) – fighter, activist (armed militia)
• Ally/coalition - ally/coalition, association
• Battle - battle
• Conflict - conflict
• War - war
• Offensive - offensive
• Counteroffensive - counterattack
• Advance - attack, advancement
• Repel - repel, reflect
• Incursion - invasion, invasion
• Onslaught - attack, attack

Vanguard- part of the troops or fleet located in front of the main forces, the vanguard; a unit that follows in front in order to prevent a surprise attack by the enemy.

Rearguard- part of the army intended to ensure security in the rear.

Bobyl- a lonely poor peasant, usually without land.

Saddle pad- a thick cloth blanket under the saddle or, sometimes, on top of the saddle. Saddle pads can be made from cotton fabric, fur and other materials. Other names: saddle cloth, chandar, board.

Sergeant- rank and position of non-commissioned officers in the cavalry, horse artillery, Cossack troops, as well as in the gendarmerie. He is the closest assistant to the squadron (battery) commander for drill training and housekeeping.

Monogram– intertwined, usually uppercase, initial letters of the first and last name, forming a peculiar pattern.

Galloon- a thick ribbon or braid of different colors, made from cotton yarn, silk, often with gold, silver thread or tinsel, used to make insignia for uniforms.

General– the highest military rank (rank) of senior officers. The rank of general could only be conferred by the king - by written order.

Batman- a member of the highest rank to perform the role of a government servant.

Corporal- military rank, immediately following the rank of private. Assigned by the unit commander to soldiers as an incentive.

Irregular troops- troops that do not have a solid and permanent organization in terms of their recruitment and service, training, uniforms, and differ significantly from regular troops.

Border- a stripe of a different color and pattern along the edge of a fabric or product.

Buckshot- an artillery shell with ready-made lethal elements, which were used as small stones and pieces of iron, without an exploding or explosive charge.

Kirza– a leather substitute, which is a dense multi-layer fabric impregnated with a special composition to protect it from moisture.

Jacket– summer canvas clothing for military personnel.

Cornet- junior officer rank in the cavalry. Initially, cornets played the role of standard bearers.

Leggings– expansion of sleeves at the wrists of military personnel.

Sash- a belt, usually made of a wide, long piece of fabric or cord.

Culottes– men's knee-length pants.

Lampas– side colored patch along military trousers.

Livery- uniforms of a special cut, usually with embroidery and braid.

Lychka– longitudinal stripe on shoulder straps.

Lyadunka- a bag for cartridges for a pistol or carbine, which was worn over the shoulder.

Major– military military rank of senior officers.

Chief officer- every officer up to and including the captain.

Cuff- a lapel at the end of the sleeve, as well as, in general, the lower sewing part of the sleeve.

Band- a detail of a uniform headdress that directly covers the parietal part of the head.

Trousers– long men's trousers (usually white).

Cape- a cape worn over clothing.

Sling- a stripe, ribbon or belt over the shoulder, mainly in uniform.

Plume- decoration made of feathers, threads or other material of a uniform headdress, as a rule, the brim of a hat, in the form of a single-color or multi-color edging.

Colonel– military military rank (rank) of senior officers. Initially it also meant the position of regiment commander. But, since the end of the 18th century - only rank.

Harness– uniform military or casual equipment for carrying weapons.

Lieutenant and second lieutenant– military ranks of chief officers in Russia (guarantors, assistant commanders).

Ensign- military rank, rank. Warrant officers occupy an intermediate position between officers and sergeants (seniors). Basically, the parts responsible for economic needs.

Instrument metal– metal assigned to the regiment – ​​gold or silver.

Clearance (firmware)- a graphic element on the shoulder straps of military personnel, is a straight strip approximately 0.3 cm wide. The color of the gap changes with the branch of the military.

Pump skin– very tough, thick, coarse leather of special manufacture.

Regular troops- troops of a standing army that have a regular organization, uniforms, and the procedure for recruitment, service, training and education established by law and regulations.

Recruitment set- system of recruiting the regular army and navy of Russia in the 18th-19th century. It extended not only to nobles, but also to burghers and peasants. The conscription age of recruits was 17-32 years. The term of service in 1812 was lifelong.

Grease boots- greased with tar or pork fat.

Smushka- lamb skin with curls of wool varying in size, luster and pattern.

Cloth- fabric made of wool or wool blend yarn, on the front surface of which, as a result of rolling, a felt-like covering is formed, hiding the pattern of weaving threads.

Sultan– fur or hair standing decoration on a hat.

Lanyard- braid with a tassel on the hilt of a saber, sword.

Teptyari- the name of a significant part of the non-Bashkir population who lived in the 18th - early 20th centuries. among the Bashkirs. Tatarstan included Tatars, Mishars, Udmurts, Maris, and Mordovians, who retained their language and cultural characteristics. The Teptyars were immigrants mainly from the Middle Volga region, settling on Bashkir lands.

Aviation, Air Force - a type of armed forces for combat in the air and striking ground and sea targets, equipped with airplanes and helicopters. Performs both independent tasks and support of other types of troops.
Automatic - small arms. Effective fire up to 400 m, rate of fire up to 100 rounds per minute. One of the best in the world is the Kalashnikov assault rifle.
Army - the totality of armed forces; military association of formations and units.
Artillery is a branch of the military, the main striking firepower - guns, mortars, rockets, etc.
An attack is the decisive moment in the offensive actions of troops - fire and movement forward.
Battalion is a subdivision of a regiment or a separate one. Consists of 3-4 companies and special platoons.
Biological weapons - pathogenic bacteria, viruses, toxins. Forbidden.
BMP - infantry fighting vehicle. Armored, allows you to fight without leaving it.
A platoon is a unit within a company. Consists of 2-4 compartments.

A rifle is a small weapon with a rifled barrel.
The navy or navy is a branch of the armed forces. Designed for operations at sea and on land. Includes ships, marines, aircraft,
Coastal artillery.
War is a large-scale armed conflict, the achievement of political goals through violent methods.
Air defense troops - designed to repel enemy air strikes.
The Guard is a selected, privileged part of the troops.
Grenade is ammunition for destroying enemy personnel and equipment at a distance of up to 100 m. Designed for firing from grenade launchers and throwing (hand grenades).
Landing troops - designed to land on enemy territory.
A division is the main tactical formation. Consists of regiments, separate 6atadions, etc.
Military doctrine is an accepted system of views on the goals and methods of warfare.
Military rank is assigned personally to each military personnel and those liable for military service. Determines seniority in the armed forces.
Caliber is one of the main characteristics of a weapon, the diameter of a firearm's barrel in millimeters or the mass of an aerial bomb in kilograms.
Surrender - the cessation of armed struggle and the surrender of troops of one state to another.
A corps is a higher combined arms formation or operational-tactical formation, consisting of several divisions, individual regiments, etc.
A sailor is a private in the navy.
Mine - exploding ammunition for firing from mortars; a weapon for constructing explosive barriers.
A mortar is a smooth-bore weapon for mounted firing at hidden targets.
An offensive is a type of military action aimed at defeating the enemy and capturing important lines or areas.
Defense is a type of combat used to disrupt the enemy’s offensive.
Weapons are the general name for devices and means used to destroy enemy personnel, equipment and structures.
A squad is a military unit of 6-12 people within a platoon.
Retreat is the withdrawal of troops from their positions for tactical purposes or under enemy pressure.
Truce is a temporary cessation of hostilities by agreement of the warring parties.
Infantry - motorized rifle units, formerly the oldest type of ground forces.
A regiment is a military unit, an organizationally independent combat unit.
A submarine is a ship capable of sailing and performing combat missions both above and below water. Can carry intercontinental missiles.
An order is a written or oral order from a superior to a subordinate, which is law for him.
The gun is an artillery piece with a firing range of up to 30 km, with a caliber of 20-100 mm.

Missile forces are a type of armed forces armed with missiles capable of hitting targets in any area of ​​the globe.
A branch of the armed forces is an integral part of the branch of the armed forces, distinguished by its inherent weapons, military equipment and characteristic combat properties.
A company is a unit of several platoons within a battalion or a separate one.
Formation is the general name of a brigade, division, corps in various branches of the military.
A soldier is a military man. In a more narrow sense - the military rank of private.
Special forces are units and subunits trained and equipped to perform particularly important tasks.
Strategy is the highest branch of military art. 06ensures the implementation of the tasks set by the policy.
Tactics is an integral part of the art of war, subordinate to strategy. Includes theory and practice of combat.
Tank is an armored tracked combat vehicle. The main weapon is a cannon with a caliber of up to 152 mm and a machine gun. Crew - 3-4 people. Speed ​​up to 70 km/h.
The rear is the entire territory of a warring country, except for the area of ​​military operations.
The Charter is an official document regulating all aspects of life in the armed forces.
Front line of deployment of armed forces and their contact with the enemy.
Chemical weapons - toxic substances and means of their use (shells, bombs).
Unit - a military formation within a formation; it includes divisions.
Nuclear weapons are a type of weapon of mass destruction; active factors: shock wave, light radiation, penetrating radiation and radioactive contamination.

Unfortunately, the history of mankind is rich in wars, uprisings, and revolutions. And our modern times cannot be called calm: the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, the orange revolution, the rose revolution, etc. In general, the topic of war and military events always remains relevant for human society.

Let's look at some one way or another related to military events:

Verbs describing warfare:

Describing war (techniques of warfare):

Defeat and overthrow

To defeat- to win, to defeat, to conquer

E.g. The government forces defeated the rebels in a fierce battle. (They beat them).

To overthrow- to overthrow, to overthrow

E.g. The rebels overthrew the government. (They removed them from power using force).

NB:

To defeat somebody means to beat them in a war or battle;

To overthrow somebody means to remove them from power using force.

To break out- unfold, flare up (about war, etc.)

E.g. Fighting broke out between the rebels and the army.

To declare- declare, announce

E.g. The country declared war on their neighbor because there were troops on the border.

To shell- bombard, shell with artillery fire

E.g. The army shelled the city all night. (They fired shells (explosives) at them).

To blow up- explode, destroy

E.g. The rebels blew up the government building. (They made it explode).

Withdraw and retreat

To withdraw– recall, withdraw, retreat, retire, leave

E.g. The army withdrew from the city. (They moved back to another position for tactical reasons).

To retreat- retreat, retreat

E.g. The rebels retreated. They moved away from the enemy because they were in danger.

NB:

To withdraw means to move to another place for tactical reasons;

To retreat means to move away from an enemy because you have lost the fight or because you are in danger.

To surrender- give up, capitulate

E.g. Some of the rebels surrendered. They admitted that they had lost and wanted to stop fighting.

To capture- to seize, to take by force, to take prisoner

E.g. They captured over 200 rebels. (They took them prisoner).

To loot- rob; capture prey

E.g. Soldiers looted shops and houses in a desperate search for food. (They stole things from shops and buildings).

Nouns:

Capture– capture, detention; capture

Defeat– loss (in a competition); defeat, rout (in a military battle)

Loot– booty, stolen goods, trophies

Overthrow- overthrow, overthrow

Retreat– retreat, signal to retreat, retreat, retreat

Shell– sleeve (cartridge); cartridge, artillery shell

Surrender- surrender, capitulation

Withdraw– extraction, withdrawal, withdrawal

Now let's study how people and events related to war and military events will be called in English:

People and events

Ally- ally, supporter

E.g. Ally is a country that has agreed to help and support another country, especially in time of war.

Casualties– wounded, killed, losses (in war)

E.g. Casualties are people who have been killed or wounded in a war.

Civilians– civilian population

E.g. Civilians are people who are not members of the armed forces or the police.

Forces- armed forces, troops

E.g. Forces are a group of people who have been trained to protect other people, usually by using weapons.

Refugees– refugees

E.g. Refugees are people who have to leave their homes because of a war or a political situation.

Sniper– marksman, sniper

E.g. Sniper is a person who shoot at someone from a hidden position.

Survivors- survivors, survivors

E.g. Survivors are people who are not killed in a war or an accident.

Troops– troops, armed forces, military units

E.g. Troops are soldiers, especially in large groups.

The wounded– wounded

E.g. The wounded are people who have been injured by weapons.

War events:

Coup and revolution

Coup– coup d'état

Revolution- revolution

NB:

A coup is when a small group of people try to overthrow a government or change the political system;

A revolution is when the mass of the population try to do the same thing.

Ceasefire and treat

Ceasefire– agreement on a ceasefire [of hostilities], truce

Treaty– treaty, agreement, convention

NB:

A ceasefire is when two sides agree to temporarily stop fighting;

A treaty is when two or more sides sign an agreement.

Civil war- Civil War

E.g. Civil war is a war between groups of people in the same country.

Siege– siege

E.g. Siege is when an army try to take a town by surrounding it and stopping the food supply.