ricochet
[ rik-uh-shey, rik-uh-shey or, esp. British, rik-uh-shet ]
/ ˌrɪk əˈʃeɪ, ˈrɪk əˌʃeɪ or, esp. British, ˈrɪk əˌʃɛt /
noun
the motion of an object or a projectile in rebounding or deflecting one or more times from the surface over which it is passing or against which it hits a glancing blow.
verb (used without object), ric·o·cheted [rik-uh-sheyd, rik-uh-sheyd] /ˌrɪk əˈʃeɪd, ˈrɪk əˌʃeɪd/, ric·o·chet·ing [rik-uh-shey-ing, rik-uh-shey-ing] /ˌrɪk əˈʃeɪ ɪŋ, ˈrɪk əˌʃeɪ ɪŋ/ or (especially British) ric·o·chet·ted [rik-uh-shet-id] /ˈrɪk əˌʃɛt ɪd/, ric·o·chet·ting [rik-uh-shet-ing] /ˈrɪk əˌʃɛt ɪŋ/.
to move in this way, as a projectile.
Origin of ricochet
1760–70; < French; origin uncertain
Words nearby ricochet
rickrack,
rickshaw,
ricky,
ricky-tick,
rico,
ricochet,
ricoeur,
ricotta,
ricrac,
rics,
rictal bristle
Example sentences from the Web for ricochet
British Dictionary definitions for ricochet
ricochet
/ (ˈrɪkəˌʃeɪ, ˈrɪkəˌʃɛt) /
verb -chets, -cheting (-ˌʃeɪɪŋ), -cheted (-ˌʃeɪd), -chets, -chetting (-ˌʃɛtɪŋ) or -chetted (-ˌʃɛtɪd)
(intr)
(esp of a bullet) to rebound from a surface or surfaces, usually with a characteristic whining or zipping sound
noun
the motion or sound of a rebounding object, esp a bullet
an object, esp a bullet, that ricochets
Word Origin for ricochet
C18: from French, of unknown origin