cannon

¹

[ kan-uhn ]

noun

, plural can·nons, (especially collectively) can·non.

1. a mounted gun for firing heavy projectiles; a gun, howitzer, or mortar.
2. British Machinery. quill ( def 10 ).
3. Armor. a cylindrical or semicylindrical piece of plate armor for the upper arm or forearm; a vambrace or rerebrace.
4. Also called cannon bit, a round bit for a horse.
5. the part of a bit that is in the horse's mouth.
6. (on a bell) the metal loop by which a bell is hung.
7. Zoology.
   1. cannon bone.
   2. the part of the leg in which the cannon bone is situated.
8. British. a carom in billiards.
9. Underworld Slang. a pickpocket.

verb (used without object)

1. to discharge cannon.
2. British. to make a carom in billiards.

Cannon

²

[ kan-uhn ]

noun

1. Annie Jump [juhmp], 1863–1941, U.S. astronomer.
2. Joseph Gur·ney [gur, -nee], Uncle Joe, 1836–1926, U.S. politician and legislator.

cannon

/ ˈkænən /

noun

1. an automatic aircraft gun of large calibre
2. history a heavy artillery piece consisting of a metal tube mounted on a carriage
3. a heavy tube or drum, esp one that can rotate freely on the shaft by which it is supported
4. the metal loop at the top of a bell, from which it is suspended
5. See cannon bone
6. billiards
   1. a shot in which the cue ball is caused to contact one object ball after another
   2. the points scored by this Usual US and Canadian wordcarom
7. a rebound or bouncing back, as of a ball off a wall
8. either of the two parts of a vambrace

verb

1. introften foll byinto to collide (with)
2. short for cannonade
3. intr billiards to make a cannon

Cannon

/ kăn′ən /

1. American astronomer noted for her work on classifying stellar spectra. Cannon classified the spectra of 225,300 stars brighter than magnitude 8.5, as well as 130,000 fainter stars.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannon¹

First recorded in 1375–1425 (earlier in Anglo-Latin, Anglo-French ); late Middle English canon, from Middle French, from Italian cannone, equivalent to cann(a) “tube” (from Latin ) + -one augmentative suffix; cane

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannon¹

C16: from Old French canon, from Italian cannone cannon, large tube, from canna tube, cane ¹

Example Sentences

District Court Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed this case in July, ruling that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unlawful and that this meant he did not have the authority to prosecute Trump.

From Slate

Smith appealed Cannon’s decision to dismiss, and that appeal is currently being considered by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

From Slate

Woody Marks, USC’s lead running back, raved about Maiava’s “cannon arm,” while tight end Lake McRee noted that Maiava can “throw the ball all over.”

From Los Angeles Times

District Court Judge Aileen Cannon ruled in the dismissal that Smith was unconstitutionally appointed to oversee the case in violation of the Constitution's appointments and appropriations clauses.

From Salon

Gershman decried the "repetitive legal ploys, frivolous arguments and gamesmanship" Trump's legal team engaged in to delay his cases and the Supreme Court and Judhge Cannon's role in making the lawyers' gambit "a huge success."

From Salon

Related Words

• howitzer
• mortar
• ordnance