What's a Petard?

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Yup, it's insufficiently Krudt-y.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Posts split off from Site Discussion thread to form own light-hearted topic rather than just removing them from the serious discussion, and relocated to Off-Topic.

Edited May 29, 2010 by Kathryn41

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

(I hope that's a sufficiently OT post for an OT topic in, uh, OT.)

[Nagishkaw 510]

A Petard is a retarded pet.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

And back to the original discussion. Nicely done.

Can we put it back, now that Nagi has found a nexus?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/257493-a-plea-to-long-time-level-headed-members-who-still-post-here/page__view__findpost__p__3965645

Edited May 29, 2010 by ##########

[sjr09 155]

what's a petard?

explosive charge for breaching fortification: a small explosive charge or grenade used to blow a hole in a door, wall, or fortification

[Nagishkaw 510]

0h geez.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

A sort of flag.

Wrong as usual Madame Cleo.

It is a bomb of sorts. It was used in siege warfare and placed against a castle gate and the fuse was lit. The resulting explosion was designed to blow the gate open. Defenders of the castle got pretty good at jerking open a small door just for such instance, and putting out the fuse. So the operators used shorter and shorter fuses, which gave them less time to get clear of the explosion. When such happened a man could be "hoist on his own petard" "Hoist" meaning thrown or blown into the air by his own bomb. The term is used to describe people who are foiled by their own actions.

It is rarely used by people that think a petard is a flag. Petard is a French word, pronounced Pet-tar.

Source: Gary. There is none better on the internet.

Edited May 29, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

that's true, I must be thinking of something else. Good work ladies.

I do not assume you were thinking at all.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Wrong as usual Madame Cleo.

It is a bomb of sorts. It was used in siege warfare and placed against a castle gate and the fuse was lit. The resulting explosion was designed to blow the gate open. Defenders of the castle got pretty good at jerking open a small door just for such instance, and putting out the fuse. So the operators used shorter and shorter fuses, which gave them less time to get clear of the explosion. When such happened a man could be "hoist on his own petard" "Hoist" meaning thrown or blown into the air by his own bomb. The term is used to describe people who are foiled by their own actions.

It is rarely used by people that think a petard is a flag. Petard is a French word, pronounced Pet-tar.

Source: Gary. There is none better on the internet.

Uh, yeah. I believe this was answered several hours ago, Gary. And oh, pro tip: In the Anglophone world, the proper pronunciation is "pe-TARD." Having Francophone Vermont roots myself, I can understand this misconception, but pronouncing it as "Pet-tar" here would mark you out as a "RE-tard."

Source: Maven, b!tch supreme.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

"Pétard" est Français pour "firecracker".

[bakofoil 27]

Uh, yeah. I believe this was answered several hours ago, Gary. And oh, pro tip: In the Anglophone world, the proper pronunciation is "pe-TARD." Having Francophone Vermont roots myself, I can understand this misconception, but pronouncing it as "Pet-tar" here would mark you out as a "RE-tard."

Source: Maven, b!tch supreme.

Maven at her finest! Pwning the internets.

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Maven at her finest! Pwning the internets.

(even a b!tch supreme can appreciate recognition when it is justly deserved)

[Peikko 1,575]

I already admitted I was wrong. However, anyone else feel like jumping on my mistake? Feel free, I'm an adult, I can admit to my mistakes, who knew?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

"Pétard" est Français pour "firecracker".

or "farting," which is maybe why Gary insisted on the French pronunciation?