A kind of shot formed of two balls, or half-balls, connected by a chain, chiefly used in naval warfare to destroy masts, rigging and sails; a shot or discharge of this. Also fig.
1581. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 55. Thys argument … is … indeed, a chaine-shot against all learning.
1591. Horsey, Trav. (1857), 186. Everie shipe caries cannon and … powder [and] cheyne-shott.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., xiv. 67. Chaine shot … contriued round as in a ball, yet will spred in flying their full length in bredth.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. vii. 73. Dilemma’s, two-edged swords that cut on both sides; Sorites, chain-shot.
1660. Ingelo, Bentiv. & Urania (1682), II. 184. A chain’d-shot … cut off Atheophilus his main Mast in the middle.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 3878/4. The Admiral … had his Leg broke by a Chain-Shot.
1850. Prescott, Peru, II. 277. He was hit by a chain-shot from an arquebuse.
