WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pet•ro•nel
(pe′trə nl),USA pronunciation n.
- Militarya firearm of large caliber, used from the 15th to the 17th century, that fired with its butt resting against the chest.
- Vulgar Latin *pectorīna, noun, nominal use of feminine of *pectorīnus of the breast; see pectoral, -ine1) + -al -al1
- Middle French petrinal, dialect, dialectal variant of poitrinal, equivalent. to poitrine chest (
- 1570–80