grenad

Grenad is typically a misspelling of grenade and is not widely used as a technical term in English. When encountered, it usually refers to the same class of handheld explosive devices, though its use can reflect transliteration differences or typographical error.

Grenade derives from French grenade, which in turn traces to Italian granata, and ultimately Latin granum, meaning grain or seed. The name is linked to the pomegranate’s segmented look and to early forms of explosive devices.

Modern grenades are designed as portable munitions used by military and police forces. They typically consist of a protective casing, an energetic charge, and a delaying or proximity fuse. Variants include fragmentation grenades intended to disperse shrapnel, smoke or incendiary grenades for signaling or obscuring visibility, and less-lethal types for crowd control. Safety and handling standards govern their storage and use.

Grenades emerged in early modern warfare and were refined through the 19th and 20th centuries. International humanitarian law regulates their use, particularly regarding civilian harm and methods of warfare. Many jurisdictions restrict possession and require licensing for military-grade devices; lawful use is generally limited to armed conflict and authorized security operations.

See also: grenade, munitions, law of armed conflict.