A solid metal ball fired from a cannon as ammunition; or to move or dive forward with great speed and force.
Compound of 'cannon' (a large gun) and 'ball.' From the 16th century when cannons were first used in warfare and fired these iron spheres.
The physics of cannonballs actually helped develop calculus—mathematicians like Newton studied their trajectories to understand motion, making this simple weapon a gateway to modern mathematics and physics.
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