woolly bear
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An explosive shell that gives out dense smoke when it bursts.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
As Bourne came out, he could see shells exploding by the dump, with some shrapnel bursting, woolly-bears they called them, overhead.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “woolly bear” mean?
An explosive shell that gives out dense smoke when it bursts.
Is “woolly bear” formal or informal?
woolly bear is generally slang.