A soldier who operates or fires a cannon; an artillery gunner.
From French 'canonnier,' derived from 'canon' (cannon) plus -eer suffix (meaning 'one who operates'). The -eer suffix is also found in 'musketeer' and 'auctioneer,' borrowed from French.
Cannoneers were the specialized elite of 18th and 19th century armies—they required mathematical skill to calculate angles and distances, making them among the most educated soldiers on the battlefield. Many became heroes in their own right.
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