What does bazooka mean?
A bazooka is a portable, tube-shaped rocket launcher carried on the shoulder by infantry soldiers, designed to destroy tanks, bunkers, and other hardened targets. First developed by the United States during World War II, the weapon fires an unguided rocket through a smooth-bore tube and relies on a shaped-charge warhead to penetrate armour. The word itself derives from a novelty musical instrument of the same name, popularised by comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s, whose long, honking tube reminded observers of the new launcher. Today 'bazooka' is strongly associated with mid-20th-century military history, and it also appears figuratively in informal speech to describe anything remarkably powerful, oversized, or forceful — a campaign launched 'like a bazooka,' for instance. It remains a vivid, evocative term in both technical and everyday contexts.
A portable, shoulder-fired rocket launcher, especially one used by infantry against tanks and fortified positions.
"He aimed the bazooka at the approaching armoured column."
Often capitalised when referring to the specific WWII-era M1 model.
(Informal) Something extremely large, powerful, or forceful.
"Their marketing budget is a real bazooka."
Figurative and colloquial.
Standard plural; occasionally seen informally as 'bazookae' but this is nonstandard.
"The museum displayed two vintage bazookas from the Second World War."
The weapon was named after a crude musical instrument — a homemade horn played by American comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s — because both were long tubes that made a loud noise.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bazooka
The word 'bazooka' entered English in the 1940s, when American troops adopted it to describe the newly introduced M1 rocket launcher. It was borrowed from the name of a novelty wind instrument — a long, crude horn made of two pipes — popularised by radio comedian Bob Burns in the 1930s, which the launcher resembled in shape. The instrument's own name likely derived from 'bazoo,' an American slang term for mouth, possibly influenced by Dutch 'bazuin' meaning trumpet.
How bazooka is actually used
Primarily a military term with strong association with World War II and mid-20th-century warfare. In informal usage it can describe anything oversized or overwhelming, often with humorous intent.
Easily confused with bazooka
Bazooka is also a brand name for bubble gum, unrelated in meaning to the weapon despite sharing the name.