TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
WHITE PHOSPHOROUS [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2024-08-19
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Chemistry
- Explosives and Pyrotechnical Materials (Industries)
- CBRNE Weapons
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- white phosphorus
1, record 1, English, white%20phosphorus
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
- WP 1, record 1, English, WP
correct
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- Willie Pete 2, record 1, English, Willie%20Pete
correct
- Willie Peter 2, record 1, English, Willie%20Peter
correct
- Willy Pete 2, record 1, English, Willy%20Pete
correct
- Willy Peter 2, record 1, English, Willy%20Peter
correct
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
White phosphorus (WP) is a flare- and smoke-producing incendiary weapon, or smoke-screening agent, made from a common allotrope of the chemical element phosphorus. White phosphorus bombs and shells are incendiary devices, but can also be used as an offensive anti-personnel flame compound capable of causing serious burns or death. The agent is used in bombs, artillery shells, and mortar shells which burst into burning flakes of phosphorus upon impact. White phosphorus is commonly referred to in military jargon as "WP". The Vietnam-era slang "Willy(ie) Pete" or "Willy(ie) Peter" is still occasionally heard. 2, record 1, English, - white%20phosphorus
Record 1, Key term(s)
- white phosphorous
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Chimie
- Explosifs et artifices (Industries)
- Armes CBRNE
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- phosphore blanc
1, record 1, French, phosphore%20blanc
correct, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
- WP 2, record 1, French, WP
correct, masculine noun, officially approved
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- Willie Pete 3, record 1, French, Willie%20Pete
masculine noun
- Willie Peter 3, record 1, French, Willie%20Peter
masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le phosphore blanc (surnommé «Willie Pete» ou «Willie Peter», provenant des initiales WP pour «white phosphorus» en anglais) était redouté pour ses effets dévastateurs. 3, record 1, French, - phosphore%20blanc
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
phosphore blanc; WP : désignation et abréviation uniformisées par le Comité de terminologie française du Conseil de doctrine et de tactique de l'Armée de terre et par le Groupe de travail de terminologie des munitions. 4, record 1, French, - phosphore%20blanc
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Química
- Explosivos y fuegos de artificio (Industrias)
- Armas QBRNE
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- fósforo blanco
1, record 1, Spanish, f%C3%B3sforo%20blanco
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
El fósforo blanco se usa para fines militares en granadas y municiones de artillería para alumbrar, generar cortinas de humo o como material incendiario. 1, record 1, Spanish, - f%C3%B3sforo%20blanco
Record 2 - internal organization data 2023-11-29
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Chemistry
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- white phosphorus
1, record 2, English, white%20phosphorus
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- yellow phosphorus 2, record 2, English, yellow%20phosphorus
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
White (sometimes called yellow) phosphorus is a white to yellow waxy solid with a garlic like odour. It ignites spontaneously in air at temperatures above 30 °C and continues to burn until it is fully oxidized or until deprived of oxygen. Burning phosphorus produces dense, white, irritating smoke containing mixed phosphorus oxides. 3, record 2, English, - white%20phosphorus
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Yellow phosphorus. This is an extremely dangerous compound in that it can catch fire spontaneously and direct contact on the skin will produce burns that heal very slowly ... It produces severe gastrointestinal irritation which can produce shock from circulatory failure. 4, record 2, English, - white%20phosphorus
Record 2, Key term(s)
- white phosphorous
- yellow phosphorous
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Chimie
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- phosphore blanc
1, record 2, French, phosphore%20blanc
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- phosphore ordinaire 2, record 2, French, phosphore%20ordinaire
correct, masculine noun
- phosphore jaune 3, record 2, French, phosphore%20jaune
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le phosphore blanc est un solide incolore ou blanc quand il est pur. Il se présente plus généralement sous l'aspect d'un solide jaune ambré de consistance cireuse, spontanément inflammable à l'air, d'odeur légèrement alliacée. 4, record 2, French, - phosphore%20blanc
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Le phosphore existe sous trois formes distinctes : le phosphore ordinaire (blanc), le phosphore rouge, et le phosphore noir. 2, record 2, French, - phosphore%20blanc
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2000-04-04
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Bombs and Grenades
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- base-bleed projectile
1, record 3, English, base%2Dbleed%20projectile
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- base-bleed round 2, record 3, English, base%2Dbleed%20round
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Fired by an M109A1 self-propelled howitzer, these base-bleed projectiles have a maximum range of 31 km for the HE(high explosive) and WP(white phosphorous) rounds and 28 km for the smoke-canister and illuminating rounds. 1, record 3, English, - base%2Dbleed%20projectile
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Bombes et grenades
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- projectile à culot exsudant
1, record 3, French, projectile%20%C3%A0%20culot%20exsudant
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- obus à diminution de traînée de culot 2, record 3, French, obus%20%C3%A0%20diminution%20de%20tra%C3%AEn%C3%A9e%20de%20culot
correct, masculine noun
- projectile muni du dispositif de réduction de la traînée de culot 3, record 3, French, projectile%20muni%20du%20dispositif%20de%20r%C3%A9duction%20de%20la%20tra%C3%AEn%C3%A9e%20de%20culot
correct, masculine noun
- obus de type DTC 2, record 3, French, obus%20de%20type%20DTC
masculine noun
- obus à culot exsudant 2, record 3, French, obus%20%C3%A0%20culot%20exsudant
masculine noun
- obus DTC 2, record 3, French, obus%20DTC
masculine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: