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; see origin at demi-, cannon

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demi-cannon

What, do you call this a sleeve? it is like a demi-cannon, carved up and down like an apple tart.'

From Tales from Shakespeare by Mary Lamb

They were not founded in this place, but brought from other parts; two of them were double cannon, each carrying a bullet of forty-eight pounds weight; most of the others were demi-cannon and culverin.

From A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II. by Charles Morton

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

From The Golden Galleon BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES OF MASTER GILBERT OGLANDER, AND OF HOW, IN THE YEAR 1591, HE FOUGHT UNDER THE GALLANT SIR by Robert Leighton

In the port ride two caravels--eighty tons, no more--and their greatest gun a demi-cannon.

From Sir Mortimer by Mary Johnston

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 Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2 "Camorra" to "Cape Colony" by Various

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