cannonball
UK[ˈkænənbɔːl]US[ˈkænənbɔːl]
n
A heavy, solid iron or steel ball fired from an old-fashioned type of large gun (cannon).
n
A style of dive in which the body is curled into a tight ball with the arms clasping the knees before entering the water.
v
To move or travel with great speed and force.
Morpheme Breakdown
cannon
ball
cannon
reed, tube
ball
ball
Etymology
The word 'cannonball' is a transparent compound formed from two distinct nouns. 'Cannon' originates from the Latin 'canna' (reed, tube), via Italian, reflecting the tubular shape of the weapon. 'Ball' comes from a Germanic root, via Old Norse, denoting a spherical object. The compound literally means "a ball for a cannon," directly describing the solid, round projectile designed to be shot from this specific artillery piece. Its later figurative uses, such as the high-speed dive or verb meaning, are logical extensions based on the projectile's characteristics of dense, compact form and rapid, forceful motion.
Analysis
Structure: cannon + ball
- cannon (from Old Italian 'cannone', meaning "large tube", from Latin 'canna', meaning "reed, tube"). The functional role is that of a specific type of large gun.
- ball (from Old Norse 'bǫllr', meaning "ball"). The functional role is that of a spherical object.
Examples
The old fort's walls still bear the dents from cannonballs.
He won the diving competition with a perfectly executed cannonball.
The children cannonballed into the pool one after another.