A cannon is a large, heavy gun, usually mounted on wheels or fixed in place, that fires big metal balls or shells using explosive force. It was widely used in warfare from the Middle Ages through the 19th century.
From Old French 'canon' meaning 'large tube' or 'gun,' from Italian 'cannone' meaning 'large tube,' from 'canna' (reed, tube), from Latin 'canna.' The name reflects the long, tube-like shape of the weapon. Over time, it became the standard term for heavy artillery pieces.
The word that now suggests thunder and smoke began as a simple 'big tube.' Cannons changed warfare by knocking down stone walls that once made cities nearly impossible to conquer. The same root shows up in 'cane' (like sugar cane) and 'canister'—all about hollow, tube-like forms.
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