cannonball

American  

[kan-uhn-bawl] / ˈkæn ənˌbɔl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to rush along, like a cannonball

2. to execute a cannonball jump

adjective

1. very fast or powerful

Etymology

Origin of cannonball

First recorded in 1655–65; cannon + ball ¹

Example Sentences

It’s not a trust fall so much as a trust cannonball.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2025

“We need to have the basic things,” said Biniam Girmay, a high-speed cannonball from Eritrea who in 2024 won three sprint stages at the Tour de France.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Instead of casually wading into the shallow end, skimming the surface with tepid bits of history about Mansfield’s life and career, Hargitay opts for a cannonball.

From Salon • Jun. 27, 2025

Here they tautologically come, slowly walking down the hall, faster than a cannonball.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2024

I hear a crackling and a crash—the cannonball hitting a tree.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

Related Words

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