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

However, he says, they should not be presumed to be cannon fodder - adding such a characterisation is “Ukrainian bravado”.

From BBC

“I’m kind of used to my identity being cannon fodder,” Bennet says in a recent Zoom interview.

From Los Angeles Times

The Go8 has called the proposed laws "draconian", while others accused the government of "wilfully weakening" the economy and of using international students as "cannon fodder in a poll-driven battle over migration".

From BBC

Amid explosions and darkened skies, the crew at Mountain High ski resort jumped into action, firing up a hundred snow cannons to douse the flames with water.

From Los Angeles Times

Last week it emerged that the interior minister had bought new water cannon vehicles and other equipment for riot police, including lethal weapons, for use "when it becomes necessary".

From BBC

Related Words

• howitzer
• mortar
• ordnance