cannon

/ˈkænən/

/ˈkænən/

Other forms: cannons; cannoned; cannoning

A cannon is a large gun that fires heavy metal shells or other projectiles. Originally it was attached to wheels and pulled by men.

More recently, cannon refers to the largest gun on a tank or the automatic guns on a plane. All cannons, however old they are, have basically the same shape — a long, thick tube. Not surprising, then, that the term comes from the Latin word canna, meaning "tube" or "reed." Do not confuse with the word canon, with one n, which is a term of classification, as in its most common usage, "the literary canon."

Definitions of cannon

1. noun

   a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
   types:

   basilisk

   ancient brass cannon

   culverin

   a heavy cannon with a long barrel used in the 16th and 17th centuries

   harpoon gun

   a cannon or similar gun that fires harpoons

   high-angle gun

   a cannon that can be fired at a high elevation for relatively short ranges

   long tom

   a long swivel cannon formerly used by the navy

   howitzer, mortar, trench mortar

   a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range

   type of:

   artillery, gun, heavy weapon, ordnance

   large but transportable armament
2. noun

   heavy gun fired from a tank
   type of:

   gun

   a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
3. noun

   heavy automatic gun fired from an airplane
   type of:

   gun

   a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
4. verb

   fire a cannon
   type of:

   discharge, muster out

   release from military service
5. noun

   (Middle Ages) a cylindrical piece of armor plate to protect the arm
   types:

   rerebrace, upper cannon

   cannon that provides plate armor for the upper arm

   lower cannon, vambrace

   cannon of plate armor protecting the forearm

   type of:

   armor plate, armor plating, armour plate, plate armor, plate armour

   specially hardened steel plate used to protect fortifications or vehicles from enemy fire
6. noun

   lower part of the leg extending from the hock to the fetlock in hoofed mammals
   synonyms: shank

   type of:

   body part

   any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity
7. noun

   a shot in billiards in which the cue ball contacts one object ball and then the other
   synonyms: carom

   type of:

   shot, stroke

   (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
8. verb

   make a cannon
   type of:

   hit

   cause to move by striking