Ma'anar ƙamus na "bama-bamai" shine hari da bama-bamai, harsashi, ko wasu makamai masu linzami, ko ci gaba da manyan bindigogi ko harbin bindiga da aka kai ga wani hari ko yanki. Hakanan yana iya komawa zuwa ga wani abu akai-akai ko mamaye wani abu, kamar bayanai, tambayoyi, ko zargi.