bomb lance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Obscure / HistoricalHistorical / Technical
Quick answer
What does “bomb lance” mean?
A specialized harpoon used in 19th-century whaling, containing an explosive charge designed to detonate inside a whale.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specialized harpoon used in 19th-century whaling, containing an explosive charge designed to detonate inside a whale.
An obsolete whaling tool that combined the functions of a lance and an explosive projectile. Modern usage is almost exclusively historical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or use, as the term is historical. American whaling history may feature the term more prominently in archives.
Connotations
Historical, violent, industrial, dangerous. Connotes an outdated and brutal method of hunting.
Frequency
The term is extremely rare in modern usage and appears primarily in historical texts, museums, and discussions of whaling history.
Grammar
How to Use “bomb lance” in a Sentence
[Subject] fired the bomb lance at [Target].The [Whaler/Historian] described the use of the bomb lance.The museum has a [bomb lance] on display.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bomb lance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The harpooner sought to bomb-lance the great sperm whale.
- They would bomb lance the creatures from their longboats.
American English
- The whalers bomb-lanced the whale from the ship's bow.
- The captain ordered the crew to bomb lance the pod.
adjective
British English
- The bomb-lance technology was a grim advance.
- He studied bomb-lance design from old diagrams.
American English
- The bomb-lance harpoon was a deadly innovation.
- The museum's bomb-lance exhibit is quite detailed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable in modern business contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, maritime, or environmental studies papers discussing 19th-century whaling technology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Specific to historical maritime technology and whaling history.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bomb lance”
- Using it to describe modern weapons or tools.
- Mispronouncing 'lance' as /ˈlæŋk/ or /ˈlɑːntʃ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words: 'bomb lance'. It is an open compound noun.
No. Modern whaling, where it still occurs, uses different technologies, and the bomb lance is considered a historical artifact. Its use is also banned by international whaling regulations.
In historical texts, it was occasionally used as a verb ('to bomb-lance a whale'), but this usage is obsolete. In modern English, it is used exclusively as a noun.
A regular harpoon is a barbed spear intended to hook the whale and be attached to a rope. A bomb lance is a projectile containing an explosive charge designed to detonate inside the whale's body, causing fatal internal injuries.
A specialized harpoon used in 19th-century whaling, containing an explosive charge designed to detonate inside a whale.
Bomb lance is usually historical / technical in register.
Bomb lance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒm ˌlɑːns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːm ˌlæns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'bomb' (explosive) + 'lance' (spear). A spear that explodes inside a whale.
Conceptual Metaphor
None in contemporary use. Historically, it represented technological escalation in hunting.
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary purpose of a bomb lance?