What is patards?

Patards, also known as "petards", were explosive devices used during the medieval and Renaissance periods in Europe. They were typically small, handheld devices made of gunpowder and metal or wooden casing, used for blowing up doors, walls, or barriers during battles or sieges. Patards were commonly carried and thrown by sappers, who were specialized soldiers trained in the art of mining and demolition.

The word "petard" comes from the French verb "péter", which means "to break wind". This is because the noise made by a petard explosion was similar to the sound of gas being released from the body.

The use of patards declined in the 17th century as more advanced and sophisticated forms of explosives were developed, but the term "hoist with his own petard" remains a popular expression even today, meaning to be hoisted by one's own device or plan.