pillbox

View more Technology videos

Term for a cylindrical fortification, first used in the Second Boer War, when many British blockhouses were circular. It gained wide currency in WW I, and was applied to concrete bunkers built by Allies and Germans alike, though most were rectangular and so ceased to resemble the traditional round chemist's box. They played an important part in the German defensive system, providing shelter for machine-gunners and artillery observers. Most could resist hits by field artillery, and were often captured by assault, with attackers posting grenades through firing slits to kill or demoralize their garrisons. They remain durable features of the French and Belgian landscape, and are often used as animal shelters or tool sheds. Pillboxes were widely constructed in Britain in WW II, and many, with their polygonal outlines, again resembled the box for which they were named.

— Richard Holmes

n. a small, low-built defensive fortification with thick walls and a roof, often of concrete, steel, or sandbags, that houses machine guns, antitank weapons, etc., with room for the soldiers firing them.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

(DOD, NATO) A small, low fortification that houses machine guns, antitank weapons, etc. A pillbox is usually made of concrete, steel, or filled sandbags.

• Cases, Boxes, and Bags - pillbox: small case that holds pills, usu. carried on person
• Hats - pillbox: woman’s small, stiff, brimless, cylindrical cap

Dansk (Danish)
n. - pilleæske

Nederlands (Dutch)
bunker, pillendoosje, dameshoed

Français (French)
n. - boîte à pilules, (Mil) casemate, toque

Deutsch (German)
n. - Pillenschachtel

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - κουτάκι για χάπια, γυναικείο κυλινδρικό καπέλο, (στρατ.) (στρογγυλό) πολυβολείο

Italiano (Italian)
casamatta, scatola per pillole, fortino, utilitaria

Português (Portuguese)
n. - caixa para pílulas (f)

Русский (Russian)
коробочка для таблеток, долговременное огневое сооружение

Español (Spanish)
n. - pastillero, fortín

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - pillerask, rund bunker (mil.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
碉堡, 药丸盒

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 碉堡, 藥丸盒

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 환약갑, 소형의 탈것, 토치카

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 丸薬箱, トーチカ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) علبه من الورق المقوي لحبوب الدواء, مكامن للجند أو حصن صغير‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮קופסת גלולות, כובע קטן עגול ושטוח של נשים, מעוז (צבאי), מצד, מצדית, ביצור קטן‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.