n.
Pronunciation: är- ' ti-l ə r- ē , - ' til-r ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ler · ies
Etymology: Middle English artillerie, from Anglo-French, from artiller to equip, arm, alteration of Old French atillier, from Vulgar Latin *apticulare, from Latin aptare to don, prepare, fit ― more at ADAPT
Date: 15th century
1 : weapons (as bows, slings, and catapults) for discharging missiles
2 a : large bore crew-served mounted firearms (as guns, howitzers, and rockets) : ORDNANCE b : a branch of an army armed with artillery
3 : means of impressing, arguing, or persuading