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Meaning of "Parthian shot" in the English dictionary

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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD PARTHIAN SHOT

Alluding to the custom of Parthian archers who shot their arrows backwards while retreating.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF PARTHIAN SHOT

Parthian shot play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF PARTHIAN SHOT

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Parthian shot is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES PARTHIAN SHOT MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Parthian shot

Parthian shot

The Parthian shot was a military tactic made famous by the Parthians, an ancient Iranian people. The Parthian archers mounted on light horse, while retreating at a full gallop, would turn their bodies back to shoot at the pursuing enemy. The maneuver required superb equestrian skills, since the rider's hands were occupied by his bow. As the stirrup had not been invented at the time of the Parthians, the rider relied solely on pressure from his legs to guide his horse. The tactic could also be used during feigned retreat, with devastating effect. You wound, like Parthians, while you fly, And kill with a retreating eye. —Samuel Butler, An Heroical Epistle of Hudibras to His Lady This tactic was used by most Eurasian nomads, including the Scythians, Huns, Turks, Magyars, and Mongols, and it eventually spread to armies away from the Eurasian steppe, such as the Sassanid clibanarii and cataphracts. A notable battle in which this tactic was employed was the Battle of Carrhae. In this battle the Parthian shot was a principal factor in the Parthian victory over the Roman general Crassus.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE PARTHIAN SHOT

Parthenon
Parthenopaeus
Parthenope
Parthenos
parthenospore
Parthia
Parthian

WORDS THAT END LIKE PARTHIAN SHOT

action shot
approach shot
big shot
by a long shot
chip shot
drop shot
free shot
high-angle shot
like a shot
long shot
low-angle shot
mug shot
pack shot
parting shot
penalty shot
pistol shot
rifle shot
shot
snap shot
to be a warning shot
tracking shot

Synonyms and antonyms of Parthian shot in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «Parthian shot» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF PARTHIAN SHOT

Find out the translation of Parthian shot to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of Parthian shot from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «Parthian shot» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

回马枪
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

tiro de Partia
570 millions of speakers

English

Parthian shot
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

पार्थियन शॉट
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

طلقة البارثيين
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

парфянская выстрел
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

tiro Parto
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

পার্থিয়ান শট
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

flèche du Parthe
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Pukulan Parthian
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Parther Schuss
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

捨てぜりふ
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

파르티아 샷
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Parthian ditembak
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

bắn Parthia
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

Parthian சுட்டு
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

पार्थियन शॉट
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

Parthian shot
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

colpo dei Parti
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

strzał Partów
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

Парфянская постріл
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

împușcat partilor
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

Parthian shot
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

Parthische Shot ´
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

Parthian skott
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

Parthian skudd
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of Parthian shot

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «PARTHIAN SHOT»

The term «Parthian shot» is used very little and occupies the 162.597 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Rarely used
24
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «Parthian shot» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of Parthian shot
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «Parthian shot».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «PARTHIAN SHOT» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «Parthian shot» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «Parthian shot» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about Parthian shot

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «PARTHIAN SHOT»

Discover the use of Parthian shot in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to Parthian shot and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Parthian shot
A group of eccentric and war-weary American and South Vietnamese soldiers during the 1960's band together in zany attempts to sabotage the war effort
Loyd Little, 1987
2
Parthian Shot
If there is one thing Marcus Corvinus hates more than doing the household accounts, it is politics.
David Wishart, 2011
3
Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes
This was later known as a Parthian shot, and when you hear the phrase “parting shot,” you may actually be hearing a corruption of the phrase “Parthian shot.”2 The Parthians were originally nomadic herders and hunters from the mountains ...
Tamim Ansary, 2009
4
Ancient Coin Collecting VI: Non-Classical Cultures
This "Parthian Shot" has become a famous expression — still in use today — although often misunderstood as "parting shot." The circumstances which led to Parthian independence are debatable, but it is certain that by 247 BC the Seleukid ...
Wayne G. Sayles, 1999
5
The Khyber Pass: A History of Empire and Invasion
His signature tactic was to ride toward the enemy at speed before turning and firing an arrow behind him, across the rump of his horse,while galloping out of reach; from this action, the phrase “parting shot”—the “Parthian shot”—is in use over ...
Paddy Docherty, 2007
6
A Dashiell Hammett Companion
Presents alphabetically arranged entries for Hammett's characters, works, family members, and acquaintances, along with a chronology and bibliography.
Robert L. Gale, 2000
7
The Revelation of John, Volume Two
In ad 62, an unprecedented event had occurred: a Roman army had actually surrendered to Vologeses, the king of the Parthians. The Parthians rode white horses and were the most famous archers in the world. A 'Parthian shot' still means a ...
William Barclay, 2004
8
The Great Fire of Rome: The Fall of the Emperor Nero and His ...
Their horse archers had perfected a technique, called the Parthian shot, whereby a horseman would turn and fire back over the rump of his horse with devastating ac- curacy as he rode away from his opponents, just when they thought he was ...
Stephen Dando-Collins, 2010
9
Civilizations of Ancient Iraq
The archers were famous for the so-called Parthian shot, discharged at a gallop while pivoting backwards in the saddle, a feat requiring exceptional prowess, seen first in Assyrian hunting reliefs.41 The mounted troops were supported by ...
Benjamin Read Foster, Karen Polinger Foster, 2009
10
Roll On Sugaree
"The story of a farm community fighting for survival when a nearby town wants the creek that is the heart and soul of the community."--Page 4 of cover.
Loyd Little, 2013

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «PARTHIAN SHOT»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term Parthian shot is used in the context of the following news items.
1
On heels of 'No' vote, Greece looks to reopen bailout talks
“I shall wear the creditors' loathing with pride,” was his Parthian shot toward those he had been negotiating with. In the absence of a flow of new ... «CCTV-America, Jul 15»
2
The House Democrats' Bizarre Defeat Of Obama On Trade
Leaving my Parthian shot to be that I don't see any checks coming in to me from people who benefit from the current absence of a trade deal so ... «Forbes, Jun 15»
3
Eminence Brass to perform at Holmfirth Arts Festival
The talented young composer Dan Hall has written 'Parthian Shot', inspired by the great military tactic invented by the ancient Iranian empire ... «4barsrest.com, Jun 15»
4
Inside China: Bi Fujian's 'Mr. Subliminal' dinner show offends …
As a military veteran, Mr. Bi fires a last Parthian shot at the corrupt PLA with the aria's conclusion, “People's army endures suffering together ... «Washington Times, Apr 15»
5
Revolutionary Alliance of Men that Women find Unattractive storms …
... down as head of the revolutionary alliance, posting distinctly un-Marxist photos of his new car and, in a Parthian shot, boasting that “thanks to ... «The Japan Times, Feb 15»
6
NASA's Charles Bolden, Sen Bill Nelson defend space agency …
Tom Coburn took a Parthian shot at NASA, in which he advocated the cancellation of both the International Space Station and the heavy-lift ... «Examiner.com, Jan 15»
7
Ladies First
But they can be the equals of men in riding and controlling horses and in shooting arrows (including the nomad's specialty, the Parthian shot, ... «Wall Street Journal, Jan 15»
8
Tom Coburn takes a Parthian shot against NASA programs
The soon to be former Senator Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma took to the pages of the Wall Street Journal om Tuesday to take a Parthian shot ... «Examiner.com, Dec 14»
9
While We Are at It
... to maintain that position, or take a convenient parthian shot at the Republicans and the former Republican president, George W. Bush. «American Thinker, Dec 14»
10
Premiere: Breton - 'Exit Row'
... own Cut Tooth label alongside Believe Recordings, the two-disc edition features 11 bonus tracks including two brand-new cuts, 'Titan' and 'Parthian Shot'. «Clash Magazine, Oct 14»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Parthian shot [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/parthian-shot>. Apr 2024 ».
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