holy hand grenade en · NOUN
Etymology
A reference to the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, a fictional weapon featured in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The weapon is a satirical interpretation of a globus cruciger (specifically, the Sovereign's Orb), hence Sense 2. The popularity of holy hand grenades as video game items is largely attributed to the Worms series.
Meanings
- A fictional weapon, usually gilded with gold and adorned with Christian symbolism such as crosses, which is a much more powerful version of a standard hand grenade or explosive.
- (Internet, humorous) A globus cruciger.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| holy hand grenades | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Hypernyms
wikipedia: Rabbit of Caerbannog#Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch · wikipedia: Sovereign's Orb · wikipedia: Monty Python and the Holy Grail · wikipedia: Worms (series)