cannonball

[ kan-uhn-bawl ]

noun

1. a missile, usually round and made of iron or steel, designed to be fired from a cannon.
2. Tennis. a served ball that travels with great speed and describes little or no arc in flight.
3. anything that moves with great speed, as an express train.

adjective

1. made from a curled-up position with the arms pressing the knees against one's chest:

   a cannonball dive.

2. moving at great speed:

   a train known as a cannonball express.

cannonball

/ ˈkænənˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a projectile fired from a cannon: usually a solid round metal shot
2. tennis
   1. a very fast low serve
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cannonball serve

3. a jump into water by a person who has his arms tucked into the body to form a ball

verb

1. often foll byalong, etc to rush along, like a cannonball
2. to execute a cannonball jump

adjective

1. very fast or powerful

Word History and Origins

Origin of cannonball¹

First recorded in 1655–65; cannon + ball ¹

Example Sentences

The British wanted to seize the ship and its treasure, but fired a cannonball into the San José’s powder magazines by mistake.

From BBC

Locals schlep their own gear to the jagged lava rock perches that line the coast and cannonball into the turquoise sea.

From New York Times

Over the last week, both artists’ camps launched new items like cannonballs.

From New York Times

Despite stunning advances in prosthetics, though, the military still looks on amputees the way it did in the days of flintlocks and cannonballs.

From New York Times

Like a well-executed cannonball, the idea is to make an impact that reverberates far beyond its own point of impact, Paganelli said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ammo
• armament
• bomb
• bullet
• cartridge
• chemical
• explosive
• gunpowder
• materiel
• missile
• munition
• napalm
• rocket
• shrapnel
• torpedo