howitzer

Meaning

Noun

• A cannon that combines certain characteristics of guns and mortars. The howitzer delivers projectiles with medium velocities, by either low or high trajectories.
• Normally a cannon with a tube length of 20 to 30 calibers; however, the tube length can exceed 30 calibers and still be considered a howitzer when the high angle fire zoning solution permits range overlap between charges
• A powerfully hit shot.

Origin

• Borrowed from Dutch houwitser, from German Haubitze, from Czech houfnice, which was derived from houf + -nice. The Czech noun houf comes from Middle High German hufe, from Old High German hūfo.