demi-cannon

American  

[dem-ee-kan-uhn] / ˌdɛm iˈkæn ən /

noun

1. a large cannon of the 16th century, having a bore of about 6½ inches (17 centimeters) and firing a shot of from 30 to 36 pounds (14 to 16 kilograms).

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Etymology

Origin of demi-cannon

From Middle French, dating back to 1550–60; demi-, cannon

Example Sentences

The Revenge mounted forty "great ordnance" of brass, including cannon-royal, demi-cannon, and culverins for firing a broadside.

From Project Gutenberg

The demi-cannon were a foot longer, but a ton lighter.

From Project Gutenberg

Cannon 4 60 Demi-cannon 3 32 Culverin 4 18 Demi-culverin 2   8 Saker 4   6 Cannon Perer 2 26 Falcon 2   2 The sizes of the guns of this time are pretty accurately known, because one of the ships of Henry VIII., called the Mary Rose, built in 1509, went down off Portsmouth in 1545, and several of her guns have been recovered, and are still in existence.

From Project Gutenberg

The Triumph carried 42 guns, of which 4 were cannon, 3 demi-cannon, 17 culverins, 8 demi-culverins, 6 sakers, and 4 small pieces.

From Project Gutenberg

In the 16th and 17th centuries the “cannon” in England was distinctively a large piece, smaller natures of ordnance being called by various special names such as culverin, saker, falcon, demi-cannon, &c.

From Project Gutenberg