Min'ie-ball, n.

n. [From Captain Minie, of France, the inventor.] A ball, or bullet, of peculiar construction. It is cast hollow for nearly two thirds of its length, and into the opening of the internal cylinder there is introduced a small concave piece of iron, which the powder, at the moment of firing, forces into the slug, spreading it open, and causing it to fit perfectly to the barrel. Hence a great increase in the precision of aim and the extent of range.