E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Bomb.
A shell filled with gunpowder. (Greek, bombos; Latin, bombus, any
deep noise. Thus Festus says: “Bombus, sonus non apium tantum, aut poculi bilbientis, sed etiam tonitrûs.” And Catullus applies it to the blast of a trumpet, “efflabant cornua bombis,” lxiv. 263.)
