/ ɑːˈtɪləri; NAmE ɑːrˈt-/ noun
1.
[ U ] large, heavy guns which are often moved on wheels :
The town is under heavy artillery fire.
2.
the artillery [ sing. ] the section of an army trained to use these guns
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French artillerie , from artiller , alteration of atillier equip, arm, probably a variant of atirier , from a- (from Latin ad to, at) + tire rank, order.