今日はThe History of Flightを話題にしたReader's Digest 2月号の記事AIR TIMEに出てきた単語です。
The biggest leap forward in WWII, however, came with the introduction of size. Until then, even multi-engined bombers were not dramatically larger than early designs but the Boeing B-29 bomber changed all that. Introduced in 1942, it was capable of carrying a 9000 kilogram bomb load and flying up to 18 hours at almost 10,000 metres. Fleets of B29s pulverised targets in Japan - and may have changed the course of WWII. They certainly changed the course of aircraft design.
B29と言う単語は子供の頃よく耳にしましたが、さすがに最近では滅多に聞くこともなくなりました。 さて、そのB29が "pulverise" した事とは何でしょう？ 爆弾を落とした事にははっきりしているのですが、爆弾を落とた結果の状態を表しているのでしょうか？
・Macmillan Dictionary: 1.to crush something into very small pieces, or powder, or a nearly liquid substance 2. to defeat an opponent completely: Our team was pulverized by the defending champions.
・Cambridge English Dictionary: 1. to press or crush something until it becomes powder or a soft mass: pulverized coal/bones 2. to defeat someone easily
・Collins English Dictionary:
1.to reduce (a substance) to fine particles, as by crushing or grinding, or (of a substance) to be so reduced
2.(tr) to destroy completely; defeat or injure seriously: Brunner had heard of the things, used in the Gulf War to pulverize the Iraqi trenches, but the Dutchman had the bit between his teeth .
辞書の２番目の意味は、映像でしか見た事はありませんが、B29による空襲後の東京を思い起こさせますね。
アフガニスタンでは今でもこの様な状況が続いている様です。
最後に取り上げた辞書の例文にあった "had the bit between his teeth " は慣用句の様なのでこれは明日の宿題にします。
The biggest leap forward in WWII, however, came with the introduction of size. Until then, even multi-engined bombers were not dramatically larger than early designs but the Boeing B-29 bomber changed all that. Introduced in 1942, it was capable of carrying a 9000 kilogram bomb load and flying up to 18 hours at almost 10,000 metres. Fleets of B29s pulverised targets in Japan - and may have changed the course of WWII. They certainly changed the course of aircraft design.
B29と言う単語は子供の頃よく耳にしましたが、さすがに最近では滅多に聞くこともなくなりました。 さて、そのB29が "pulverise" した事とは何でしょう？ 爆弾を落とした事にははっきりしているのですが、爆弾を落とた結果の状態を表しているのでしょうか？
・Macmillan Dictionary: 1.to crush something into very small pieces, or powder, or a nearly liquid substance 2. to defeat an opponent completely: Our team was pulverized by the defending champions.
・Cambridge English Dictionary: 1. to press or crush something until it becomes powder or a soft mass: pulverized coal/bones 2. to defeat someone easily
・Collins English Dictionary:
1.to reduce (a substance) to fine particles, as by crushing or grinding, or (of a substance) to be so reduced
2.(tr) to destroy completely; defeat or injure seriously: Brunner had heard of the things, used in the Gulf War to pulverize the Iraqi trenches, but the Dutchman had the bit between his teeth .
辞書の２番目の意味は、映像でしか見た事はありませんが、B29による空襲後の東京を思い起こさせますね。
アフガニスタンでは今でもこの様な状況が続いている様です。
最後に取り上げた辞書の例文にあった "had the bit between his teeth " は慣用句の様なのでこれは明日の宿題にします。
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