To collide or strike violently, especially so as to glance off or rebound.
Origin
Attested from around 1400 as Middle English canon, from Middle French canon, from Italian cannone, from Latin canna, from Ancient Greek κάννα ("reed"), from Akkadian 𒄀 ("reed"), from Sumerian 𒄀𒈾. canyon.
This spelling was not fixed until about 1800.
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