missile

Etymology

From Latin missilis (“that may be thrown”), neuter missile (“a weapon to be thrown, a javelin”), in plural missilia (“presents thrown among the people by the emperors”), from mittere (“to send”). From 1611. Compare Middle French missile (“projectile”), from 1636.

noun

1. Any object used as a weapon by being thrown or fired through the air, such as stone, arrow or bullet. [from 17th c.]
   The Rhodians, who used leaden bullets, were able to project their missiles twice as far as the Persian slingers, who used large stones.
   Riot officers and police on horseback were deployed to disperse the crowns, but they came under attack from bottles, fireworks and other missiles. Paragraph 24, R v Blackshaw (2012) WLR 1126
2. (military) A self-propelled projectile whose trajectory can be adjusted after it is launched. [from 20th c.]
   That missile is explosive enough to kill hundreds.