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Historically, artillery (from French artillerie) refers to any engine used for the discharge of large projectiles during war, served by a crew of men. The term also describes ground-based troops with the primary function of manning such weapons. Artillery is sometimes known as the "God of War". This term includes coastal artillery which traditionally defended coastal areas against seaborne attack and controlled the passage of ships, using their ability to deny access through the threat of coastal fire. It also includes land-based field artillery. With the advent of powered flight at the start of the 20th Century, artillery also included ground-based anti-aircraft batteries.