/mis"euhl/ or, esp. Brit., /-uyl/ , n.
1. an object or weapon for throwing, hurling, or shooting, as a stone, bullet, or arrow.
2. See guided missile .
3. See ballistic missile .
adj.
4. capable of being thrown, hurled, or shot, as from the hand or a gun.
5. used or designed for discharging missiles.
[ 1600-10; missilis, equiv. to miss ( us ) (ptp. of mittere to send, throw) + -ilis -ILE ]