Is Collateral Damage A Euphemism?

Is Collateral Damage A Euphemism? The term collateral damage, a euphemism for civilian casualty, came into usage during the Vietnam War and over several decades became entrenched in U.S. armed forces jargon. But long before the phrase was coined there were non-combatant victims of wars. What does the euphemism collateral damage mean? “Collateral damage” is