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broken arrow

noun, phrase — 5 senses

broken arrow

nounalso spelled Broken Arrow
1

Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Technical A callout marker that consists of a dashed line with an arrowhead.

  • A broken arrow A - - -> B indicates that an occasional result of Section A is used in Section B, but that Section B is essentially independent of Section A.2003, Thomas W. Hungerford, Algebra, →ISBN, page 371:
  • Longitudinal scan of focal thickening and disruption of the median nerve (broken arrow), at the level volar to the distal radius, in keeping with scarring from prior trauma. (F) Sagittal proton density MR image of nonspecific thickening of the 2. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 3. 4. median nerve (broken arrow), with a similar configuration.2012, Diana Gaitini, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, An Issue of Ultrasound Clinics, →ISBN:
1 more example
  • Note that the uptake of pertechnetate (i.e., darkness) is comparable between the two thyroid lobes (solid arrow) and the salivary glands (broken arrow).2014, Richard W. Nelson, C. Guillermo Couto, Small Animal Internal Medicine, →ISBN, page 761:
2

Government, Military, Politics, War US, Historical Any of a series of accidental nuclear events in the Cold War, involving nuclear weapons or warheads fallen from aircrafts, which could have triggered a nuclear war.

3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see broken, arrow.

Broken Arrow

phrase
1

Government, Military, Politics, War US A code phrase indicating that a ground unit is facing imminent destruction from enemy attack and all available air forces within range are to provide air support immediately.

  • The FAC urgently sends over his radio a cry for help: "Broken Arrow! Broken Arrow!' His message unleashes all available close air support in South Vietnam on a priority basis.2003, Jacques-François de Chaunac, The American Cavalry in Vietnam: "First Cav", →ISBN, page 48:
  • Before Caras could respond, the General threw down the mike, turned to his second and said, "Get them all the air support we have, everything. This is Broken Arrow"2008, Terry Ryan, Bring Out Your Dead, →ISBN, page 137:
2 more examples
  • Broken Arrow refers to the U.S. military's code word used during the Vietnam War. This call was used only in the direst of tactical situations, when a ground unit was overrun by enemy forces. When "Broken Arrow" was heard on the radio nets, all available aircraft were diverted to provide close air support for the endangered command.2010, Danny W. Davis, The Phinehas Priesthood, →ISBN:
  • All Pulse elements, this is Home Plate. Broken Arrow. I repeat, Broken Arrow. Forward command of close air-support operations is Rebel Four One.2017, Kevin Ikenberry, Vendetta Protocol, page 155:
Related terms
Bent Spear, Empty Quiver, Faded Giant

Broken Arrow

noun
1

Government, Military, Politics, War US, Euphemistic An accidental event that involves nuclear weapons or nuclear components but does not create the risk of nuclear war.

  • In the US, the code name for a serious nuclear weapons incident is "Broken Arrow". It is US policy neither to confirm nor deny the existence of nuclear weapons at any specific location; this also applies to Broken Arrow incidents.2004, Roland Everett Langford, Introduction to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Radiological, Chemical, and Biological, page 97:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — authors: page histories for broken arrow and Broken Arrow.