noun
ramrod
RAM-rod
noun
1
A rod once used to push ammunition and powder down the barrel of an old-fashioned firearm.
"The re-enactor demonstrated how to load a musket with a ramrod."
adj
1
Extremely straight and rigid, especially describing posture.
"The sergeant stood ramrod straight during the inspection."
How to Use Ramrod
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally a tool for loading old firearms; now mostly used to describe someone standing perfectly straight and stiff.
Common pairings
ramrod straight
ramrod posture
Word Forms
ramrodded past tense, ramrods plural, ramrods singular
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The re-enactor demonstrated how to load a musket with a _____.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of ram ("to force something in") and rod.