/kan"euh steuhr/ , n.
1. a small box or jar, often one of a kitchen set, for holding tea, coffee, flour, and sugar.
2. Also called canister shot . See case shot .
3. the part of a gas mask containing the neutralizing substances through which poisoned air is filtered.
[ 1670-80; canistrum wicker basket kánastron, deriv. of kánna reed (see CANE), with -astron, var. of -tron suffix of instrument (prob. from v. derivs., as stégastron covering, from stegázein to cover) ]