Howitzer

/ˈhaʊ.ɪts.əɹ/ noun, verb

noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A cannon that combines certain characteristics of field guns and mortars, delivering projectiles with medium velocities, usually with relatively high trajectories; normally a cannon with a tube length of 20 to 30 calibers.
  2. 2
    a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range wordnet
  3. 3
    A powerfully hit shot.

    "Belgium took a little while to catch Scotland with the first of the howitzer blows, but when the first one landed there was a certainty of more. Many more."

Verb
  1. 1
    To attack with a howitzer. transitive

Example

More examples

"Belgium took a little while to catch Scotland with the first of the howitzer blows, but when the first one landed there was a certainty of more. Many more."

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch houwitser, from German Haubitze, from Middle High German haufniz, from Czech houfnice, which was derived from houf (“flock, crowd”) + -nice. The Czech noun houf comes from Middle High German hufe (“heap”), from Old High German hūfo.

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