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howitzer

American  
[hou-it-ser] / ˈhaʊ ɪt sər /

noun

Ordnance.

  1. a cannon having a comparatively short barrel, used especially for firing shells at a high angle of elevation, as for reaching a target behind cover or in a trench.

howitzer British  
/ ˈhaʊɪtsə /

noun

  1. a cannon having a short or medium barrel with a low muzzle velocity and a steep angle of fire

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of howitzer

1685–95; earlier hauwitzer < Dutch houvietser, equivalent to houviets- (< German Haubitze, Middle High German haufnitz < Czech houfnice slingshot) + -er -er 1

Vocabulary lists containing howitzer

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A source told CNN that other weapons could include offensive weapons like short-range missiles, Howitzer rounds, and medium-range air-to-air missiles.

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2025

Golf Battery demonstrates a fire mission on the M777A2 Howitzer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2025

Dzioba spoke to Reuters as he stood near a Howitzer battery outside a defensive bunker close to the Bakhmut front lines.

From Reuters • Feb. 17, 2023

For example, a recent package of aid contained 75,000 rounds for the Howitzer.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 10, 2022

I told them that this could only be done if the English had a Howitzer.

From Three Years' War by De Wet, Christiaan Rudolf

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.