cannon
a mounted gun for firing heavy projectiles; a gun, howitzer, or mortar.
British Machinery. quill (def. 10).
Armor. a cylindrical or semicylindrical piece of plate armor for the upper arm or forearm; a vambrace or rerebrace.
Also called cannon bit, canon bit. a round bit for a horse.
the part of a bit that is in the horse's mouth.
(on a bell) the metal loop by which a bell is hung.
Zoology.
the part of the leg in which the cannon bone is situated.
British. a carom in billiards.
Underworld Slang. a pickpocket.
to discharge cannon.
British. to make a carom in billiards.
Origin of cannon
1Words that may be confused with cannon
- cannon , canon
Other definitions for Cannon (2 of 2)
Annie Jump [juhmp], /dʒʌmp/, 1863–1941, U.S. astronomer.
Joseph Gur·ney [gur-nee], /ˈgɜr ni/, "Uncle Joe", 1836–1926, U.S. politician and legislator.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use cannon in a sentence
We lay gasping in the back of the cab, cannoning helplessly as it swayed round corners.
The Blue Germ | Martin SwayneWhen he is halfway up the communication trench, cannoning into the walls in his haste and weariness, the firing suddenly stops.
The Secret Battle | A. P. HerbertAmid laughter and noise, the balls could be heard cannoning on the inner billiard-table.
Tales of Two Countries | Alexander KiellandPresently Peter found himself on the point of cannoning into the back of the Scout just ahead of him.
Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. | Percy F. WestermanThe impact had hurled him violently forward, and cannoning off Barcroft's back he had slid more or less gently to the ground.
Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. | Percy F. Westerman
British Dictionary definitions for cannon
/ (ˈkænən) /
an automatic aircraft gun of large calibre
history a heavy artillery piece consisting of a metal tube mounted on a carriage
a heavy tube or drum, esp one that can rotate freely on the shaft by which it is supported
the metal loop at the top of a bell, from which it is suspended
See cannon bone
billiards
a shot in which the cue ball is caused to contact one object ball after another
the points scored by this: Usual US and Canadian word: carom
a rebound or bouncing back, as of a ball off a wall
either of the two parts of a vambrace
Origin of cannon
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for Cannon
[ kăn′ən ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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