Main Entry: ¹can·non

Pronunciation: \ˈka-nən\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural cannons or cannon

Etymology: Middle English canon, from Anglo-French, from Old Italian cannone, literally, large tube, augmentative of canna reed, tube, from Latin, cane, reed — more at cane

Date: 15th century

1 plural usually cannon a : a large heavy gun usually mounted on a carriage b : a heavy-caliber automatic aircraft gun firing explosive shells
2or can·on : the projecting part of a bell by which it is hung : ear
3 : the part of the leg in which the cannon bone is found