anti-aircraft, a.
(ˌæntɪˈɛəkrɑːft, -æ-)
[anti-1 4.]
Used for defence against hostile aircraft; esp. anti-aircraft gun, one for firing shells at a very high elevation. Hence ellipt. or as n., anti-aircraft defences, regiment, etc. Abbrev. A.A. (see A III); see also ack-ack.
| 1914 Scotsman 25 Sept. 5/4 An anti-aircraft gun of the Third Army Corps. 1919 Athenæum 23 May 360/2 The anti-aircraft force. 1939 Times Weekly 15 Feb. 8 Two Regular regiments of anti-aircraft artillery were being brought to London to give additional protection to the city. 1947 L. Hastings Dragons are Extra ix. 197, I had been passed A1 by the doctors in London and found myself back in uniform in anti-aircraft. 1959 New Statesman 3 Jan. 6/3 The Nike-Zeus anti-aircraft missile system. 1959 Listener 24 Dec. 1108/2 The anti-aircraft did its stuff. |