ˈcounter-ˌbattery Mil.
[a. F. contre-batterie: cf. counter- 2, 3, 11.]
† 1. A counter-attack with artillery. Obs.
| 1592 Sir H. Unton Corr. (Roxb.) 429 With some few peces of artillerie making counter battery. 1599 Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 123 And wee made a counterbattery against our enemies for ten dayes space. 1651 Howell Venice 103 The besieged did..make so furious a counter-Battery, as, etc. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. iv. 156. |
b. fig.
| 1594 2nd Rep. Dr. Faustus in Thoms Prose Romances (1858) III. 356 Faustus had begun to prepare for the counter⁓battery, determining to throw down upon the assemblies heads, so many heavy charms and conjurations that they should fall down. |
2. A battery raised against another. Also fig.
| 1603 Florio Montaigne i. xx. (1632) 41 Provided with a counterbattery of forcible enchantments. 1667 Lond. Gaz. No. 170/2 They raised a battery of five great guns against the Town, which were dismounted by a Counterbattery of seven guns. 1838 Penny Cycl. X. 375/1 That the guns..might be..concealed from the view of the enemy in his counter-battery. |
† 3. [counter- 11.] A battering of each other.
| 1643 Herle Answ. Ferne 48 He would never have begun this unhappy counterbattery of inke. |