▪ I. countermine, n.
(ˈkaʊntəmaɪn)
[mod. f. counter- 3, 13 + mine: cf. F. contremine, It. contramina (both 16th c.)]
1. Mil. A mine or subterranean excavation made by the defenders of a fortress, to intercept a mine made by the besiegers. Also, a permanent excavation made in fortification for the like purpose.
| 1548 Hall Chron. 56 b, Least either they should make a countremyne or be an impediment to his worke men. 1579 Fenton Guicciard. vi. (1599) 230 It is subiect to countermines on all sides. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii. ii. 67. 1645 N. Stone Enchir. Fortif. 47 Counter-Mynes are made in Ramparts or Bulwarkes, at the first new making of a Fort..In them the least noise that is made in the outside is to be heard, and which way they work. 1686 Burnet Trav. v. (1750) 276 All the Bastions have a Countermine that runneth along by the Brim of the Ditch. 1863 J. C. Morison St. Bernard iv. i. 412 He undermined the towers, and was met by the countermines of the garrison. |
b. In naval war: A submarine ‘mine’ sunk in such a position as to explode the enemy's mines by the concussion of its explosion.
The sea mines and countermines are cylinders, or other vessels, filled with an explosive; the mines being laid so as to defend a harbour, etc., by exploding under the ships of an assailant, the latter sinks his countermines in their supposed vicinity, and explodes them from a distance by electricity.
| 1880 Athenæum 21 Aug. 242 [To] discover the approach of any hostile torpedo launches when they attempt to tow countermines against the line of defence..The lines of countermines were laid and exploded in a masterly manner by the naval launches. |
2. fig. A secret device or plot designed to frustrate another; a counter-plot.
| 1570 B. Googe Pop. Kingd. iii. 33 b, With dreames and fond deuice of men, and cursed countermine. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xx. (1632) 992 With secret countermines and open weapons of Law. 1647 May Hist. Parl. iii. vi. 100 Many Mynes and Countermynes were every day working with great industry on both sides. a 1704 R. L'Estrange (J.), The countermine was only an act of self-preservation. |
▪ II. countermine, v.
(ˌkaʊntəˈmaɪn)
[f. prec. n.: cf. F. contreminer, It. contraminare, Sp. contraminar.]
1. Mil. a. intr. To make a countermine.
| 1583 T. Stocker Civ. Warres Lowe C. i. 87 b, The enemy neuer giuing ouer vndermyning, caused the townes men also to plye it with countermyning as fast. 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Contraminar, to countermine, Cuniculum aduersum agere. 1600 Holland Livy xxxviii. vii. 986 b, They countermined directly against them. 1692 Capt. Smith's Seaman's Gram. ii. ii. 91 He may be able..to Mine or Counter-mine under the same. |
b. trans. To make a countermine against; to oppose or check by a countermine.
| 1684 J. Peter Siege Vienna 85 Whilst the Turks were working..under that part of the Ravelin..and that our Men were digging from above to countermine them. 1686 Lond. Gaz. No. 2159/1 Our Mines..were Countermined by the Enemy. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 38 ¶13 A great Body of Miners are summoned to the Camp to countermine the Works of the Enemy. 1858 Froude Hist. Eng. IV. 438 The mine was countermined. |
c. In naval war: To lay down countermines.
| 1880–6 [see countermining below]. |
2. fig. To defeat by a counter-plot.
| 1580 North Plutarch (1676) 1003 Nero countermining her, presenteth his mother with many rich jewells. 1668 Dryden Evening's Love iv. i, He knew you, Madam, and was resolv'd to countermine you in all your Plots. 1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome 417 Maesa..still countermined all his Designs. 1794 Godwin Cal. Williams 107, I seem to myself perpetually on the brink of being countermined. 1863 Q. Rev. CXIV. 519 Cecil..did not countermine works of darkness with works of darkness. |
¶ Erroneously for countermure.
| c 1592 Marlowe Jew of Malta i. ii, Though counter⁓min'd with walls of brass. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 289 These walls are..wel countermined with earth on the inside. |
Hence ˌcounterˈmining vbl. n. and ppl. a. countermining cable, countermining gear, etc., that used in laying and exploding sea-countermines.
| 1649 Roberts Clavis Bibl. 325 Gods countermining of Hamans plot. 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 298 Countermining Emulators. 1880 Athenæum 21 Aug. 242/2 Experiments in countermining..exemplified by the submarine operations carried on last October. 1883 Daily News 16 Nov. 6/6 The Admiralty, with the view of undertaking extensive torpedo experiments, have ordered..20,000 yards of countermining cable. 1886 Pall Mall G. 25 Aug. 4/1 Suitable countermining gear with which to destroy their mines. |