howitzer
[hou-it-ser]
- a cannon having a comparatively short barrel, used especially for firing shells at a high angle of elevation, as for reaching a target behind cover or in a trench.
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Origin of howitzer
1685–95; earlier hauwitzer < Dutch houvietser, equivalent to houviets- (< German Haubitze, Middle High German haufnitz < Czech houfnice slingshot) + -er -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for howitzer
Contemporary Examples
The convoy included more than 40 tankers and trucks--19 of those were each towing a 122mm howitzer.
ISIS forces had come so close to Erbil that the city was in range of the Howitzer artillery cannons that ISIS possesses.
McCain Calls Obama's 'Pinprick' Iraq Strikes 'Meaningless' and 'Almost Worse Than Nothing'Josh Rogin
August 8, 2014
These include, among other things, some 1,500 Humvees and 52 Howitzer artillery guns, which have a range of up to 20 miles.
Fortunately, by then he was in England carrying a steno pad, not in Tunisia hauling a howitzer.
Historical Examples
To-night we did not succeed in getting the howitzer into camp.
The Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, Oregon and CaliforniaBrevet Col. J.C. Fremont
This howitzer had a range of more than 6,000 yards, and was a powerful weapon.
At length those who could not escape surrendered, and the howitzer was ours.
Three Years in the Federal CavalryWillard Glazier
Our 15-inch howitzer could be used to batter Kilid Bahr forts.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2Ian Hamilton
Only one 6-inch Howitzer Battery (4 howitzers) and one 60-pr.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2Ian Hamilton
howitzer
- a cannon having a short or medium barrel with a low muzzle velocity and a steep angle of fire
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Word Origin
C16: from Dutch houwitser, from German Haubitze, from Czech houfnice stone-sling
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for howitzer
n.
1680s, via Dutch houwitser (1660s), German Haubitze from Bohemian houfnice "a catapult," from houf "heap, crowd," a loan-word from Middle High German hufe "heap." Introduced to German during the Hussite wars, 14c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper