cannon

¹

[kan-uhn]

noun

plural

cannons ,

plural

cannon .

1. a mounted gun for firing heavy projectiles; a gun, howitzer, or mortar.

2. British Machinery.,  quill.

3. Armor.,  a cylindrical or semicylindrical piece of plate armor for the upper arm or forearm; a vambrace or rerebrace.

4. Also called canon bit. Also called cannon bit,. a round bit for a horse.

5. the part of a bit that is in the horse's mouth.

6. (on a bell) the metal loop by which a bell is hung.

7. Zoology.

   1. cannon bone.

   2. the part of the leg in which the cannon bone is situated.

8. British.,  a carom in billiards.

9. Underworld Slang.,  a pickpocket.

verb (used without object)

1. to discharge cannon.

2. British.,  to make a carom in billiards.

Cannon

²

[kan-uhn]

noun

1. Annie Jump 1863–1941, U.S. astronomer.

2. Joseph Gurney Uncle Joe, 1836–1926, U.S. politician and legislator.

cannon

/ ˈkænən /

noun

1. an automatic aircraft gun of large calibre

2. history a heavy artillery piece consisting of a metal tube mounted on a carriage

3. a heavy tube or drum, esp one that can rotate freely on the shaft by which it is supported

4. the metal loop at the top of a bell, from which it is suspended

5. See cannon bone

6. billiards

   1. a shot in which the cue ball is caused to contact one object ball after another

   2. Usual US and Canadian word: carom. the points scored by this

7. a rebound or bouncing back, as of a ball off a wall

8. either of the two parts of a vambrace

verb

1. to collide (with)

2. short for cannonade

3. (intr) billiards to make a cannon

Cannon

1. American astronomer noted for her work on classifying stellar spectra. Cannon classified the spectra of 225,300 stars brighter than magnitude 8.5, as well as 130,000 fainter stars.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cannon¹

First recorded in 1375–1425 (earlier in Anglo-Latin, Anglo-French ); late Middle English canon, from Middle French, from Italian cannone, equivalent to cann(a) “tube” (from Latin ) + -one augmentative suffix; cane

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cannon¹

C16: from Old French canon, from Italian cannone cannon, large tube, from canna tube, _cane ¹

Example Sentences

Security forces used water cannons and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.

From BBC

The GSF has alleged that many activists were assaulted with water cannon while their boats were intercepted.

From BBC

Security forces have maintained a heavy presence across Antananarivo and other major cities, with police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse the protesters.

From BBC

After we exchanged our vows, with friends and family gathered, we stood together, each with one hand on a flaming torch, and fired a 200-year-old cannon into the night sky.

From Salon

Guehi's header cannoned back off the bar and Mateta was best positioned to nod home unmarked because he was standing by the goalkeeper rather than with a defender.

From BBC

Related Words

• howitzer 
• mortar 
• ordnance