supermissile

English

Alternative forms

• super missile
• super-missile

Etymology

From super- +‎ missile.

Noun

supermissile (plural supermissiles)

1. Any massive object used as a superweapon by being thrown or fired through the air.
2. (military) An extremely powerful, self-propelled projectile whose trajectory is adjustable after it is launched.
   • 1956, Army Library (U.S.), Special Bibliographies‎, United States Department of the Army, Army Library, page 91:

     An interview with Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, Chief of Naval Operations in which he describes the Navy's role in an era of H-bombs and supermissiles.

   • 1969, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations. Subcommittee on International Organization and Disarmament Affairs, Strategic and Foreign Policy Implications of ABM Systems‎, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 316:

     For example, the details of the new Soviet SS9 supermissile, which apparently was not thought to be a proper subject to include in a formal “posture statement” were abruptly declassified and trotted out as Exhibit A in the case for Soviet aggressiveness as it was presented live for all to see and hear.

   • 1981 November 20, Herbert Lawrence Block, “‘It’s a Dove”, in coldwar.unc.edu‎:

     “It’s a bomber! It’s a supermissile! No — it’s a dove.”

See also

• projectile
• rocket