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Definition of "ramrod" [ram•rod]

  • A rod used to force the charge into a muzzleloading firearm. (noun)
  • A rod used to clean the barrel of a firearm. (noun)
  • A harshly demanding overseer; a disciplinarian. (noun)
  • To exert strict control over; supervise closely. (verb-transitive)
  • To force passage or acceptance of: a group that ramrodded the bill through Congress. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "ramrod" in a sentence
  • "A steel ramrod from a musket is a wild whipping thing, and Phil is right -- it kicks like a bronco."
  • "I've read that "back in the day" when muzzleloaders were used in battle, shooting the ramrod was the last resort when out of ammo."
  • "From this the parts descend gradually to a little wire called the ramrod-spring-wire, the value of which is only one mill."
Words like "ramrod"
a-looking
arternoon
child'n
combat-ready
head-down
mission-oriented
overseer
partic'lar