an attack of machine-gun fire or cannon fire from a low flying airplane
"the next morning they carried out a strafe of enemy airfields"
An attack of machine-gun or cannon fire from a low-flying aircraft.
attack with machine guns or cannon fire from a low-flying plane
"civilians were strafed in an effort to force the country's surrender"
To attack (ground targets) with automatic gunfire from a low-flying aircraft.
The word comes from the German verb strafen, meaning "to punish." During World War I, British soldiers heard this phrase used in the expression "Gott strafe England," which they adopted to describe machine-gun fire that punished enemy troops.