water cannon

noun

1. a truck-mounted hose or pipe that shoots a jet of water through a nozzle at extremely high pressure, used especially in dispersing rioters or demonstrators.

water cannon

noun

1. an apparatus for pumping water through a nozzle at high pressure, used in quelling riots

Word History and Origins

Origin of water cannon¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The Taiwanese boats also have water cannon and a 20-millimetre static machine gun, but are careful to avoid a confrontation that "could lead to unimaginable consequences", Huang said.

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A water cannon was deployed but not used, while officers on horseback and a dog unit also attended.

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A water cannon was also deployed but has not been used.

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The governing Georgian Dream party responded forcefully, police dispersed rallies with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon, adopted repressive laws targeting independent media and NGOs, and arrested opposition leaders and protesters.

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Manila accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming and firing its water cannon at a Philippine government vessel.

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