cannon definition - Dictionary

MSN homeMailMy MSN

encartagreeting cards

encarta®

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Translations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

cannon

can·non [ kánnən ]

noun (plural can·nons)

Definition:

1. (plural can·nons or can·non) historical weapon: in former times, a weapon that fired heavy iron balls or other projectiles through a simple iron tube

2. modern weapon: a modern heavy artillery weapon large enough to need to be mounted for firing, e.g. on a warship or on a tracked vehicle

3. aircraft gun: a rapid-firing gun mounted on an aircraft

4. U.K. cue games
Same as caromn (sense 1)

5. bell loop: the loop at the top of a bell from which it is suspended

verb (past and past participle can·noned, present participle can·non·ing, 3rd person present singular can·nons)

Definition:

1. intransitive verb collide: to collide with something or bounce off it at great speed and with a lot of force

a 35-yard field goal that cannoned off the post

2. transitive verb military
Same as cannonadev (sense 1)

3. intransitive verb U.K. cue games
Same as caromv (sense 1)

[14th century. Via French< Italian cannone "large tube" < Latin canna (see cane)]

Spelling Note


	cannon or canon? Do not confuse the spelling of cannon and canon, which sound similar. Cannon is chiefly used as a noun denoting a weapon, especially one formerly used to fire heavy iron balls. It is also used as a verb, meaning "collide" or "rebound": The car cannoned into the bridge. The word canon is a noun with numerous meanings, including "a rule or decree," "a list of saints," "a collection of religious writings or artistic works," and "a member of the clergy of a cathedral."