bombard

Bombard comes from Middle English bombard, itself from Middle French bombarde, a word for a mortar-like siege weapon (and also a bassoon-like instrument), tracing back to Latin bombus, meaning 'buzzing' or 'booming.' The verb form comes through French bombarder, from that same Middle French bombarde.

The word started as the name for a heavy medieval cannon, one whose deep boom gave it its name. Over time it shifted from naming the weapon itself to describing the act of attacking with such weapons, and eventually any relentless onslaught, of words, questions, or noise.

Its root, Latin bombus for 'booming,' also lies behind the Middle French bombarde used for a low-voiced, bassoon-like instrument, showing how the same booming sound gave rise to both a weapon's name and a musical one.