barrage

Etymology

Borrowed from French barrage (“barrage, barrier”). Compare barrier.

noun

1. An artificial obstruction, such as a dam, in a river designed to increase its depth or to divert its flow.
2. (military) A heavy curtain of artillery fire directed in front of one's own troops to screen and protect them.
   The 75s of V Corps fired a standard rolling barrage, while the larger 155 mm and 8-inch pieces fired standing barrages 500 meters beyond the barrage line. For the rolling barrage, one battery in each battalion fired low, bursting shrapnel instead of the standard high explosive. 2014, Edward G. Lengel, A Companion to the Meuse-Argonne Campaign, John Wiley & Sons, page 350
3. A concentrated discharge of projectile weapons.
   Blast after blast, fiery outbreak after fiery outbreak, like a flaming barrage from within,[…]most of Edison's grounds soon became an inferno. As though on an incendiary rampage, the fires systematically devoured the contents of Edison's headquarters and facilities. 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 1, in Internal Combustion
4. (by extension) An overwhelming outburst of words, especially of criticism.
   Lesser lawyers who were vague in oral argument faced a barrage of sarcasm or, if he agreed with them, constant chiding to do better. 2016-02-20, “Obituary: Antonin Scalia: Always right”, in The Economist
5. (fencing) A "next hit wins" contest to determine the winner of a bout in case of a tie.
6. Type of firework containing a mixture of firework types in one single-ignition package.

verb

1. (transitive) To direct a barrage at.
   Maybe now her daughter would stop barraging her with questions about her past. 2020, Brit Bennett, The Vanishing Half, Dialogue Books, page 259