skip-bomb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObsoleteHistorical / Technical (Military Aviation)
Quick answer
What does “skip-bomb” mean?
A technique of low-altitude bombing where an aircraft releases a bomb so that it skips or ricochets off the ground or water surface toward a target.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A technique of low-altitude bombing where an aircraft releases a bomb so that it skips or ricochets off the ground or water surface toward a target.
The verb form meaning to attack a target using the skip-bombing technique.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both British and American military histories used the technique. The term is likely of Anglo-American military origin.
Connotations
Connotes precision, low-altitude daring, and a specific historical period of aerial warfare.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use. Found primarily in historical accounts, documentaries, or technical military literature.
Grammar
How to Use “skip-bomb” in a Sentence
[Subject: pilot/aircraft] skip-bomb [Object: target (ship/bridge)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skip-bomb” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Mosquito pilots were trained to skip-bomb German shipping in the Channel.
- They planned to skip-bomb the dam, using the water's surface to guide the weapon.
American English
- The B-25 Mitchells would skip-bomb Japanese cargo vessels.
- He successfully skip-bombed the bridge during the mission.
adverb
British English
- The aircraft approached the target skip-bombing low over the waves. (gerund as adjective/noun)
American English
- Not used as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- The skip-bomb technique required exceptional piloting skill.
- A skip-bomb attack was a dangerous but effective method.
American English
- They practiced skip-bomb runs over the lake.
- The skip-bomb tactic was pioneered in the Pacific theater.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical or military studies papers discussing WWII/Korean War tactics.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used in specific military aviation history contexts; otherwise obsolete.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skip-bomb”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “skip-bomb”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skip-bomb”
- Using it as a general term for any bombing. Confusing it with 'carpet bombing' or 'dive bombing'. Using it in a modern context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an obsolete technical term from mid-20th-century warfare.
Yes, primarily as a verb ('to skip-bomb a target') and as part of the compound noun 'skip-bombing' for the technique.
The extreme low altitude required made the aircraft highly vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire and debris from the explosion.
Yes. Dive-bombing involves a steep descent directly at the target. Skip-bombing is a low, level approach where the bomb is released to skim/skip towards the target.
A technique of low-altitude bombing where an aircraft releases a bomb so that it skips or ricochets off the ground or water surface toward a target.
Skip-bomb is usually historical / technical (military aviation) in register.
Skip-bomb: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskɪp bɒm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskɪp bɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is technical and literal.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a stone you 'skip' across a pond. A 'skip-bomb' is a bomb designed to 'skip' across water or ground to hit a target low and hard.
Conceptual Metaphor
WARFARE IS A PRECISE SPORT (like skipping stones).
Practice
Quiz
The term 'skip-bomb' is primarily used in which context?