ordnance

Definitions

ordnance is a shrunk variant of 'ordinance.' Both come from ordinare (to arrange, set in order). 'Ordinance' first meant a thing arranged or provided — including arranged military equipment. That military sense split off, lost a syllable, and froze into 'ordnance' = artillery and weapons.

Why It Means This

Don't confuse 'ordnance' (weapons) with 'ordinance' (a local law or rule). They are the same word historically — both 'things ordained/arranged' — but the spelling without the 'i' specialized to mean military hardware, while the full spelling kept the sense of an official regulation.

Common Collocations

• 1.heavy ordnance重型军械
• 2.unexploded ordnance未爆军械
• 3.military ordnance军事军械
• 4.ordnance depot军械库

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Soldiers cleared the unexploded ordnance from the battlefield.

• 2.

  The factory manufactured ordnance for the navy during the war.

• 3.

  Heavy ordnance was moved up to the front line overnight.