/ ˈkænən; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun ( pl. can·non or can·nons )
1.
an old type of large heavy gun, usually on wheels, that fires solid metal or stone balls
—see also loose cannon , water cannon
2.
an automatic gun that is fired from an aircraft
■ verb
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to hit sb/sth with a lot of force while you are moving :
He ran around the corner, cannoning into a group of kids.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French canon , from Italian cannone large tube, from canna cane, reed, via Latin from Greek kanna , kannē , of Semitic origin.