1. Large-caliber weapons, such as cannon, howitzers, and missile launchers, that are operated by trained crews.

The branch of an army that specializes in the use of such weapons.

2. The science of the use of guns; gunnery.
3. Weapons, such as catapults, arbalests, and other early devices, used for discharging missiles.
4. Etymology: from about 1386, "warlike munitions", from Old French artillerie, from artillier, "to provide with engines of war", which probably is from Middle Latin articulum, "art, skill"; a diminutive of Latin ars, artis, "art".

There are those who would connect it with Latin articulum "joint", and still others with Old French atillier, "to equip"; altered by the influence of arte.

The sense of "engines for discharging missiles" (catapults, slings, bows, etc.) is from 1496; and that of "ordnance, large guns" is from 1533.