demi-cannon
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of demi-cannon
From Middle French, dating back to 1550–60; see origin at demi-, cannon
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.
‘As if it had been an echo, we heard John Collins’s voice come up all hollow: “Twenty-four serpentines and two demi-cannon.
From Puck of Pook’s Hill by Rackham, Arthur
He added that the main entrance to the place was strongly fortified, and protected by a half company of fifty men with eight brass demi-cannon.
From On the Spanish Main Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien. by Masefield, John
Upon every bulwark is mounted one demi-cannon, besides other great guns; in other places are smaller pieces.
From A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II. by Morton, Charles
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 Lamb, Mary
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
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.
