crossfire
nounUK /ˈkɹɒsfaɪə/ · US /ˈkɹɔːsfaɪɹ/
Etymology From cross- + fire.
1
Government, Military, Politics, War An arrangement of two or more weapons so each can fire diagonally at something in front of a line between them.
2
The danger to a third party passing between two belligerents firing at one another.
- The two factions were either side of the road. A civilian lorry was caught in the crossfire and became collateral damage
3
The danger to a third party passing between a gunman and his target.
- A woman who was caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting in north London on Tuesday evening was not the intended target, police have said.2024 May 15, Geneva Abdul, “Woman hit in London drive-by shooting was not intended target, police say”, in The Guardian:
4
Broadly A heated confrontation between opposing factions.