noun
- Plural of melinite; a type of high explosive made from picric acid, used especially in artillery shells in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Usage: historical; military; technical
Examples
- French artillery relied on melinites for their shells during the late 1800s.
- The development of melinites represented a significant advancement in explosive technology.
- Melinites were eventually replaced by more stable and powerful explosives.
- Military engineers studied the properties of melinites to improve shell design.