Encyclopedia > Claymore

  Article Content

Claymore

The word claymore has been used to describe two distinct types of swords used by Scottish warriors and soldiers. The first was a large, two-handed sword used in the medieval period. The second was a large basket-hilted sword and was issued to Scottish troops in the 18th century.


A Claymore mine is, strictly speaking, a model of landmine used by United States armed forces beginning in the Vietnam War era. The term now encompasses all mines working on a similar principle. It consists of a curved sheet of high explosive with steel ball-bearings embedded on one side. When detonated the balls fly outward at high speed, spraying an area with shrapnel.



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Jamesport, New York

... is 2.88. In the town the population is spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who are 65 ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 29.4 ms