canister

American  

[kan-uh-ster] / ˈkæn ə stər /

noun

1. a small box or jar, often one of a kitchen set, for holding tea, coffee, flour, and sugar.

2. Also called canister shot.  case shot.

3. the part of a gas mask containing the neutralizing substances through which poisoned air is filtered.

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canister British  

/ ˈkænɪstə /

noun

1. a container, usually made of metal, in which dry food, such as tea or coffee, is stored

2. 1. a type of shrapnel shell for firing from a cannon

   2. Also called: canister shot.   case shot.  the shot or shrapnel packed inside this

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Etymology

Origin of canister

1670–80; < Latin canistrum wicker basket < Greek kánastron, derivative of kánna reed ( cane ), with -astron, variant of -tron suffix of instrument (probably from verbal derivatives, as stégastron covering, from stegázein to cover)

Example Sentences

The government says it is an offence to illegally dispose of canisters and local councils have powers to take enforcement action against offenders.

From BBC

I put down my kale and lean against the counter, causing the sugar canister to wobble.

From Literature

Elizabeth, 38, from Leven, spotted the prosthesis, which she first thought was a gas canister, on one of her usual walks from Hornsea.

From BBC

One indelible image of Metro Surge was of Bovino, emerging from an SUV into a wintry melee, like a general stepping onto a battlefield, and launching a canister that released green smoke at protesters.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Third warning. Gas, gas, gas,” Bovino says, then tossing the canister and pushing people away from the intersection.

From Salon

Related Words

• bag
• bottle
• bowl
• box
• bucket
• can
• capsule
• carton
• crate
• dish
• jar
• jug
• kettle
• package
• packet
• pail
• pot
• pouch
• sack
• storage