cannonball

American  

[kan-uhn-bawl] / ˈkæn ənˌbɔl /

noun

1. a missile, usually round and made of iron or steel, designed to be fired from a cannon.

2. Tennis. a served ball that travels with great speed and describes little or no arc in flight.

3. anything that moves with great speed, as an express train.

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adjective

1. made from a curled-up position with the arms pressing the knees against one's chest.

   a cannonball dive.

2. moving at great speed.

   a train known as a cannonball express.

cannonball British  

/ ˈkænənˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a projectile fired from a cannon: usually a solid round metal shot

2. tennis

   1. a very fast low serve

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cannonball serve

3. a jump into water by a person who has his arms tucked into the body to form a ball

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verb

1. to rush along, like a cannonball

2. to execute a cannonball jump

adjective

1. very fast or powerful

Etymology

Origin of cannonball

First recorded in 1655–65; cannon + ball ¹

Example Sentences

“We need to have the basic things,” said Biniam Girmay, a high-speed cannonball from Eritrea who in 2024 won three sprint stages at the Tour de France.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

The British wanted to seize the ship and its treasure, but fired a cannonball into the San José’s powder magazines by mistake.

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2024

Locals schlep their own gear to the jagged lava rock perches that line the coast and cannonball into the turquoise sea.

From New York Times • May 29, 2024

You curl into a cannonball and pray for salvation.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2024

I didn't enjoy that time the Hab launched me like a cannonball.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• ammo
• armament
• bomb
• bullet
• cartridge
• chemical
• explosive
• gunpowder
• materiel
• missile
• munition
• napalm
• rocket
• shrapnel
• torpedo