battering ram

noun

1

: a military siege engine consisting of a large wooden beam with a head of iron used in ancient times to beat down the walls of a besieged place

2

: a heavy metal bar with handles used (as by firefighters) to batter down doors and walls

Examples of battering ram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And it was accomplished in large part due to a balanced offensive approach that features Henry as its battering ram. —Jesse Reed, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Ferrell’s idea, in conjunction with director Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), was to take Steele across the country, in part to get reacquainted with his old (and now kind of new) friend, but also to serve as a sort of cisgender battering ram for her. —Samantha Allen, Them, 12 Sep. 2024

An armored vehicle faced his family home, its massive battering ram aimed at the front door. —James Bandler, ProPublica, 3 Sep. 2024

According to Times archives, Los Angeles Police Department raids often used violence, even employing a six-ton tank with a steel battering ram, pro-police graffiti and deliberate property destruction. —Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

battering ram

noun

1

: an ancient military machine consisting of a large iron-tipped wooden beam used to beat down walls

2

: a heavy metal bar with handles used (as by firefighters) to batter down doors and walls