Glossary of terms

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C
cruiser a large fast warship
curfew a law that people must stay home after a particular time at night, often during a war or civilian crisis
D
de-mining the process of removing landmines
decoration an official title or honour given to someone, usually in the form of a medal, as a reward for military bravery
defoliant a herbicide chemical applied to trees and plants to make all their leaves fall off, used in wartime to remove an enemy's vegetative shelter and destroy their crops
degenerate to become worse in some way
delegation a small group of people sent to a place to have talks with other people as representatives of a larger group of people
demilitarise to remove any military presence or function in an area
demobilise to release troops from military service - demobilisation (noun)
deploy to organise and position troops, weapons or resources ready for action - deployment (noun)
descent a person's family background, especially their nationality or social status
deserter someone who leaves their job in the armed forces without permission
destroyer a small, heavily armed warship
detachment a group of soldiers sent away from the main group to do a special job
detonate set off an explosive device, such as a bomb
dictator a ruler who has complete power in a country, especially power which was obtained by force and is used unfairly
dictator a ruler who has complete power in a country
digger an Australian or New Zealander, especially a soldier; often used as a term of address
diorama a miniature three-dimensional scene with models of figures arranged against a background
dirigible an airship, such as a zeppelin
disembark to unload goods or passengers from a ship or aeroplane
dismount to get down from a camel, horse, bicycle or armoured vehicle
dispatch a message or report that is sent by army officers or government officials to their headquarters - also 'despatch'
displaced persons who lack a home, through war, political exile, destruction of shelter, or lack of money
displaced person someone who lost their home through war, political exile, destruction of shelter or lack of money
dissident a person who disagrees with and criticises their government, especially because it is undemocratic
diversionary describes an action to distract the enemy from the main point of attack
dogfighting an aerial battle between opposing fighter planes
dominion a nation that was part of the British Empire but had its own government e.g. Australia from 1901 to 1953
dysentery an infection of the intestine with bacteria or protozoa, characterised by severe diarrhoea
E
egalitarian supporting the idea that all people are equal and should have the same rights and opportunities
embark to load goods or passengers onto a ship or aeroplane
emplacement a fortified position prepared for heavy artillery or a machine gun
enact to make a proposal into a law
encampment a group of tents in a particular place, especially those used by soldiers
endemic native or common to a locality or community (plant, animal or disease)
enemy alien a citizen of one country living in another country with which it is at war, and viewed as suspect as a result
enlist in to join a country's military force, such as the army - enlisted in, enlisting in; also enlistment (noun)
enteric fever another name for typhoid fever, an infection caused by ingestion of Salmonella typhosa bacteria with food or water
epidemic a temporary widespread occurrence of a disease
escort one or more guards, soldiers, vehicles or vessels who accompany others for protection, guidance or restraint, or as a symbol of honour
ethnic cleansing the systematic removal from a specific area of people of another ethnic or religious group through intimidation or by using force
eugenics the study of methods to improve the human race by selecting parents who will produce children with desirable traits
euthanise to kill a person or animal painlessly, such as to relieve suffering from an incurable illness
expat a person who lives outside their native country; short for 'expatriate'
expeditionary relating to a journey undertaken for an exploratory or military purpose
extortionist a person who gets something from someone by using force or threats
F
famine a situation when large numbers of people experience extreme hunger due to drought, overpopulation or civil war, and many of them die
feint a mock attack or military movement designed to distract an adversary
fire step a step dug into the front side of a deep trench for soldiers to stand on when firing over the parapet