howitzer
UK /ˈhaʊ.ɪts.ə(ɹ)/ · US /ˈhaʊ.ɪts.əɹ/ noun, verb
Forms howitzers howitzering howitzered
- noun 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.
- noun (sports, rugby, ice hockey) A powerfully hit shot.
- verb (transitive) To attack with a howitzer.
Synonyms
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.
Webster’s 1913
Etymology [G. haubitze, formerly hauffnitz, Bohem. haufnice, orig., a sling.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “howitzer”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details