I. ˈka-nən noun
( plural cannons or cannon )
Etymology: 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
Date: 15th century
1. plural usually cannon
a. : a large heavy gun usually mounted on a carriage
b. : a heavy-caliber automatic aircraft gun firing explosive shells
2. or can·on : 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
II. verb
Date: 1567
intransitive verb
: to discharge cannon
transitive verb
: cannonade