bom·bard / bämˈbärd/ • v. [tr.] attack (a place or person) continuously with bombs, shells, or other missiles: the city was bombarded by federal forces supporters bombarded police with bottles. ∎  assail (someone) persistently, as with questions, criticisms, or information: they will be bombarded with complaints. ∎  Physics direct a high-speed stream of particles at (a substance).DERIVATIVES: bom·bard·ment n.

bombard. A type of shawm—but in 14th and 15th cents. was applied in Fr. and Eng. to alto-pitched shawm. Name was probably taken over from an artillery piece of the same name. (The word is derived from the Lat. bombus, drone or buzz). Note that the bombardon has nothing in common with it, being a brass instr., as is the It. bombarda, euphonium.