Wordsmith.org: the magic of words


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Subscribe

Archives



Jun 28, 2023
This week’s theme
Toponyms

This week’s words
byzantine
erewhonian
Pearl Harbor
Delphic
Roman peace

Pearl Harbor
The USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor
Photo: Diana Quinlan, US Navy

Bookmark and Share Facebook Twitter Digg MySpace Bookmark and Share
A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

Pearl Harbor

PRONUNCIATION:
(purl HAHR-buhr)

MEANING:
noun: A sudden, devastating attack.
verb tr.: To attack suddenly with devastating results.

ETYMOLOGY:
After Pearl Harbor, near Honolulu, Hawaii, the site of a US naval base, which was attacked by Japanese planes on Dec 7, 1941, leading to the US joining WWII. Earliest documented use: 1942.

USAGE:
“A year and a half ago, Jones was injured in an accident at his shop, ‘my Pearl Harbor,’ he says. A truck tire rim he was working on burst, badly injuring the side of his head, his right shoulder, and left wrist.”
Mark Felsenthal; One Man’s Treasures; Daily Press (Newport News, Virginia); Aug 2, 1989.

“‘[The mayor] Pearl Harbored the fire station,’ Mitchell said. ‘It was a sneak attack. He runs out of town and nobody can find him.’”
Jerry Thomas; Union to Fight Closing of Fire Station in Chelsea; Boston Globe; Sep 2, 1990.

See more usage examples of Pearl Harbor in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness? -Jean Jacques Rousseau, philosopher and author (28 Jun 1712-1778)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith