Molotov cocktail

noun

a crude incendiary grenade consisting of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid and a wick that is ignited before throwing: used originally for setting fire to enemy tanks during the Spanish Civil War.

Origin of Molotov cocktail

First recorded in 1935–40; named after V. M. Molotov

British Dictionary definitions for molotov cocktail

Molotov cocktail
/ (ˈmɒləˌtɒf) /

noun

an elementary incendiary weapon, usually a bottle of petrol with a short-delay fuse or wick; petrol bomb

Word Origin for Molotov cocktail

C20: named after V. M. Molotov

Cultural definitions for molotov cocktail

Molotov cocktail
[ (mol-uh-tawf, mol-uh-tawv) ]

An incendiary bomb made from a breakable container, such as a bottle, filled with flammable liquid and provided with a rag wick. Used by the Soviets against the invading German armies in World War II, these bombs were nicknamed after V. M. Molotov, a foreign minister of the Soviet Union at that time.