cannon
UK: ˈkænən | US: ˈkænən
n. a large, heavy piece of artillery, typically mounted on wheels, formerly used in warfare
n. (historical) a heavy automatic gun that fires shells from an aircraft or tank
n. (colloquial) a car or vehicle with significant power or speed
cannon = cann<tube> + on<noun suffix>
- cann<tube>: Derived from Italian canna (tube/reed), from Latin canna (reed, pipe), reflecting the tubular shape of early cannons.
- on<noun suffix>: A common noun-forming suffix in English, often indicating an object or tool.
Etymology Origin:
The word cannon traces back to the Italian cannone, meaning "large tube," which itself comes from canna (reed/pipe). The term originally described the barrel-like structure of early firearms. Over time, it evolved to denote heavy artillery, emphasizing both the cylindrical design and the weapon's function. The suffix -on solidifies its status as a tangible object, aligning with other tool-related nouns in English.
The soldiers loaded the cannon with gunpowder and iron balls.
Modern tanks are equipped with rapid-firing cannons.
His vintage car is a real cannon on the racetrack.
The pirate ship fired its cannons at the enemy vessel.
During the reenactment, the sound of the cannon echoed across the field.