cannon

noun can·non \ ˈka-nən \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Examples: cannon in a Sentence

Editor's Note: What is the difference between cannon and canon?

Definition of cannon

plural cannons or cannon

1 plural usually cannon

a : a large, heavy gun usually mounted on a carriage

b : a heavy-caliber automatic aircraft gun firing explosive shells

c : any device for propelling a substance or object at high speeds

an air cannon

a T-shirt cannon

— see also water cannon

2 or canon : 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

4 sports, informal : a very strong throwing arm

While Hershberger had a quick, accurate arm, Lombardi had a cannon.
—William Nack

a shortstop with a cannon arm

See cannon defined for English-language learners

See cannon defined for kids

Recent Examples of cannon from the Web

The laser pistol was promised to be smaller and lighter than an outright space cannon, and those issues matter a lot in space.

— anatoly zak, Popular Mechanics, "The Soviet Laser Space Pistol, Revealed," 14 June 2018
According to Woods Hole, the Colombian government plans to build a museum and a conservation laboratory to preserve and publicly display the wreck's contents, including cannons, ceramics, and other artifacts.

— lauren landrum, CNN, "Researchers offer new details how they found a 300-year-old ship that sank with $17 billion in treasure," 22 May 2018
In many ways the first five years of the band was just like being shot out of a cannon.

— cliff hall, Philly.com, "They Might Be Giants celebrate 30 years of their seminal album, 'Lincoln'," 26 Apr. 2018
Next move to the three-meter mark and shoot your air cannon at the toilet paper.

— svenja lohner, Scientific American, "Create a Ring of Air!," 12 Apr. 2018
Graham came to Eugene like he was shot out of a cannon.

— tyson alger, OregonLive.com, "Oregon Ducks practice in Portland: Live updates," 7 Apr. 2018
The cannons, fireworks, 1812 Overture and other classics will be on tap.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "2018 Symphony on the Prairie schedule includes Beach Boys and a Tom Petty tribute," 2 Mar. 2018
Kathy McVay was sitting behind home plate when she got hit between the eyes with a hot dog from Phanatic's cannon, according to 6ABC.

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "Phillies Fan Hurt After Getting Shot in Face by Flying Hot Dog From Phanatic's Cannon," 20 June 2018
In Seattle, a post about a dog’s bad reaction to some kind of cannon that was sounded during Seahawks football games led to an online dispute, and a neighborhood meeting at a library to talk it out erupted into a brawl.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "What Petty Nextdoor Posts Reveal About America," 20 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cannon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What is the difference between cannon and canon?

Cannon and canon are occasionally confused by writers, but the two words have independent origins, and do not share a meaning. Cannon is most frequently found used in the sense of "a large gun," and can be traced to the Old Italian word cannone, which means "large tube." Canon, however, comes from the Greek word kanōn, meaning "rule." Although canon has a variety of meanings, it is most often found in the senses of "a rule or law of a church," "an accepted rule," or "a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works." A loose cannon is "a dangerously uncontrollable person or thing." There are no loose canons.

Origin and Etymology of cannon

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

cannon

verb

Definition of cannon

cannoned; cannoning; cannons

intransitive verb

: to discharge cannon

transitive verb

: cannonade

See cannon defined for English-language learners

Examples of cannon in a Sentence

The ball cannoned off the goalpost and into the net.

Recent Examples of cannon from the Web

In stoppage time Mateus Uribe fired a stinging shot from long range and Pickford leaped to keep it out with one outstretched hand, sending it wide of the goal and cannoning into the advertising boards.

— james ellingworth, The Seattle Times, "Pickford the hero as England’s penalty curse ends," 3 July 2018
Hakan Calhanoglu also came close to stealing the lead for Milan, blasting one from several yards out following a breakaway, but his shot unluckily cannoned off the crossbar.

— SI.com, "Juventus 3-1 Milan: Cuadrado & Khedira Break Rossoneri Hearts With Late Stunners at the Allianz," 31 Mar. 2018
The succession of niggling fouls had caused Watford's first-half domination to fall by the wayside and Luka Milivojevic almost made them pay - the midfielder's free kick cannoning back off the upright with Karnezis beaten.

— SI.com, "Tense Contest Between Watford, Crystal Palace Ends in Stalemate," 21 Apr. 2018
Jesus had the chance to score from the spot in the second half but cannoned his effort off the inside of the post, with the rebound falling to his teammate Bernardo Silva to tap home.

— SI.com, "'I’m Good at Penalties': Goal-Hungry Ederson Volunteers for Man City Spot Kick Duty," 24 Apr. 2018
Umtiti celebrated Barca's second goal at the Camp Nou by pulling at his badge and pointing to it after his shot had cannoned in off the post and then Roma's Kostas Manolas.

— tom allnutt, chicagotribune.com, "Umtiti: grabbing of badge was to show 'love' for Barcelona," 5 Apr. 2018
After firing home Liverpool's opener at 35 minutes with a perfect shot that cannoned in off the base of the crossbar and left goalkeeper Alisson no chance, Salah merely raised his hands to shoulder height as his teammates engulfed him.

— martin rogers, USA TODAY, "Salah among world's best after two brilliant Liverpool goals, classy celebrations," 24 Apr. 2018
Instead of taking the effort on himself, Suarez's quick return pass to his fellow South American on the edge of the area allowed the Argentine to dispatch his effort which cannoned back off the crossbar and allowed Branquiazuis to breath again.

— SI.com, "Barcelona 4-0 Deportivo La Coruna: Sublime Barca See Off Depor & Open Six-Point Lead in La Liga," 17 Dec. 2017
Board President Jim Patterson said village ordinance requires a 8-foot-tall fence in a commercial area, and that the board legally cannon approve a taller fence without approval from the zoning board of appeals.

— alexandra kukulka, chicagotribune.com, "Glenview gives final approval to revised Culver's plan," 7 Sep. 2017