barrage, n.
(ˈbærɑːʒ, -ɪdʒ, formerly ˈbɑːrɪdʒ)
[a. F. barrage, f. barre bar n.1: see -age.]
1. a. The action of barring; the formation of an artificial bar in a river or watercourse, to increase the depth of water; the artificial bar thus formed, esp. those in the Nile.
| 1859 W. Gregory Egypt in 1855–6 I. 64 Useless barrages that obstruct, and do not benefit. 1865 Daily Tel. 8 Dec. 5/1 The execution of the barrage of the Nile. 1868 J. Macgregor Voy. Alone 88 The vast locks, barrages, quays. |
b. In modern military use: a barrier of continuous artillery or machine-gun fire concentrated in a given area, used to prevent the advance or retreat of enemy troops, to protect troops advancing against the enemy, to repulse attacks by aircraft, and for destructive purposes; creeping barrage or moving barrage, a curtain of fire moving before and directed from behind advancing troops. More explicitly barrage fire.
| 1916 H. W. Yoxall Let. 22 Sept. in Fashion of Life (1966) iv. 32 The Bosche barrage was almost as good as ours. 1917 Times 11 July 5/5 The German barrage fire on the trenches, though it lasted so short a time, was of extreme severity. Ibid. 26 Sept. 7/6 The barrage was effective in keeping the raiders at a great height. 1918 ‘Boyd Cable’ Air Men o' War ix. 118 Next instant he plunged at, into, and through the barrage, his machine rocking and pitching and rolling in the turmoil of shell-torn air. 1922 Encycl. Brit. XXX. 250/1 This breakdown of communications..led to the general introduction of the ‘creeping barrage’ (French barrage roulant, German Feuerwalze). Briefly, it is a screen of shells bursting on and close to the ground, which is moved forward across the country by short leaps according to a pre-determined time-table. 1938 Times 7 Sept. 9/1 Aeroplanes, balloons, guns, and searchlights, and the barrage itself had their part to play in the air defences of London. |
c. transf. and fig.
| 1917 W. Owen Let. 25 May (1967) 464 You too have walked slowly through many barrages..from resisting Life. 1918 Daily Chron. 20 Dec. (Weekley), Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig passed into London through a creeping barrage of cheers. 1920 W. J. Locke House of Baltazar xxiv. 300 If the barrage of silence is maintained. 1927 M. Diver But Yesterday xxvii. 301 All that barrage about his health. 1942 E. Colby Army Talk 20 The word ‘Barrage’..also gets into slang, in the service..to describe a flood of conversation purposely put up to deceive and divert. 1958 F. C. Avis Boxing Ref. Dict. 8 Barrage, a succession of fast and hard punches by one boxer against another. 1964 Observer 5 Jan. 2/5 The barrage of official statements. |
d. In Sport: a heat for the selection of contestants. Also, the deciding jump-off, run-off, etc., in the event of a draw.
| 1955 Times 23 July 3/2 Twelve competitors out of a representative international field qualified for the first barrage for the puissance jumping. 1956 Times 1 Dec. 10/1 Miss G. Sheen, successful in the final barrage of the women's individual foils at Melbourne yesterday. 1963 Bloodgood & Santini Horseman's Dict. 16 Barrage, jump-off in a horse-show. |
2. barrage balloon, a captive balloon forming part of a balloon barrage. Cf. balloon barrage s.v. balloon n.1 10.
| 1923 Aviation 25 June 690/2 The employment of barrage balloons..permits the realization of economy in the distribution of ‘active means’ of anti-aircraft defense. 1925 Sci. Amer. July 61/1 The Barrage Balloon..is designed to ascend to a great height, trailing fine steel wires extending to the ground and wrecking any hostile airplane. 1943 Roof over Britain 5 The 'plane had struck a barrage balloon cable. |
Hence barrage v. trans., to put a barrage upon; intr. to put down a barrage. Also fig.
| a 1917 E. A. Mackintosh (1918) War, the Liberator 124 The artillery will barrage at x. 20. 1918 ‘Boyd Cable’ Air Men o' War xvii. 230 The only bit of the whole line they managed to barrage properly. 1960 New Left Rev. May–June 64/1 She..barraged me with questions. |