Broadside

the whole side of a ship above the water line, from the bow to the quarter.
Navy.

all the guns that can be fired from one side of a warship.
a simultaneous discharge of all the guns on one side of a warship.

any strong or comprehensive attack, as by criticism.
Also called broadsheet.

a sheet of paper printed on one or both sides, as for distribution or posting.
any printed advertising circular.

any broad surface or side, as of a house.
Also called broadside ballad. a song, chiefly in 16th- and 17th-century England, written on a topical subject, printed on broadsides, and sung in public, as on a street corner, by a professional balladeer.
with the side, especially with the broader side, facing toward a given point or object:
The truck hit the fence broadside.
in a wide-ranging manner; at random:
to attack the president’s policies broadside.
to proceed or go broadside.
to fire a broadside or broadsides.
to collide with or run into the side of (a vehicle, object, person, etc.):
We got broadsided on the freeway.
to make concerted verbal attacks on:
The president was broadsided by the opposition.
Contemporary Examples

Michael Tomasky on How Rick Santorum Nailed Mitt on Romneycare Michael Tomasky January 28, 2012
How a Racist Newspaper Defeated Lincoln in New York in the 1864 Election Harold Holzer May 1, 2013
Too Sexy for Brazil Mac Margolis October 5, 2011

Historical Examples

Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis from 1840 to 1843 William Hutcheon Hall
The Pirate and The Three Cutters Frederick Marryat
Harper’s Young People, August 17, 1880 Various
Fair Harbor Joseph Crosby Lincoln
Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 James Barnes
Fair Harbor Joseph Crosby Lincoln
The Naval History of the United States Willis J. Abbot.

noun
(nautical) the entire side of a vessel, from stem to stern and from waterline to rail
(navy)

all the armament fired from one side of a warship
the simultaneous discharge of such armament

a strong or abusive verbal or written attack
Also called broadside ballad. a ballad or popular song printed on one side of a sheet of paper and sold by hawkers, esp in 16th-century England
any standard size of paper before cutting or folding: demy broadside
another name for broadsheet (sense 1)
a large flat surface: the broadside of the barn
adverb
with a broader side facing an object; sideways: the train hit the lorry broadside
n.