cannonball

cannonball — noun

IPA/ˈkænənbɔːl/
KK[kˈænənbˌɔl]IPA/ˈkænənbɔːl/
  • cannonballsingular
  • cannonballsplural

1. a heavy round object made of metal or stone that was shot from a large gun calle

1.nounB1
Definition

a heavy round object made of metal or stone that was shot from a large gun called a cannon, used in battles in past centuries

Example

The museum display showed a rusted iron cannonball from a 17th-century warship.

historic sense, used with 'rusted', 'iron' as modifier

Children playing near the old fortress found a small cannonball buried in the grass.

Common collocations
  • iron cannonball
  • stone cannonball
  • fire a cannonball
  • cannonball strike
Synonyms
  • shot

    broader term covering any projectile fired from a cannon or gun

  • projectile

    more technical; covers any object thrown or fired through the air

Usage Note

Typically found in historical or museum contexts. The sense is mostly passive vocabulary for modern learners — you are more likely to read about cannonballs than to use the word in conversation.

2. a very hard and fast stroke in tennis or similar sports, especially a serve that

2.nounB2
Definition

a very hard and fast stroke in tennis or similar sports, especially a serve that gives the opponent little time to react

Example

Nadia won the match with a cannonball serve that her opponent could not reach.

informal sports term; collocation: 'cannonball serve'

The young player practiced her cannonball shot every day until it became unstoppable.

Common collocations
  • cannonball serve
  • cannonball shot
  • cannonball return
Synonyms
  • rocket

    similar metaphor for a very fast shot; slightly less common

  • bullet (serve/shot)

    another metaphor for extreme speed; implies precision as well

Usage Note

Used mostly in informal sports commentary or casual conversation about tennis. Not a standard technical term in official tennis rules.

3. a jump into a swimming pool or other body of water in which a person tucks the a

3.nounB1
Definition

a jump into a swimming pool or other body of water in which a person tucks the arms around the knees and curls the body into a ball shape, usually to make a big splash

Example

Ravi did a huge cannonball off the diving board and splashed everyone by the pool.

collocation: 'do a cannonball'; recreation context

The children screamed with joy as each took turns doing a cannonball into the lake.

Common collocations
  • do a cannonball
  • huge cannonball
  • cannonball into the pool
  • cannonball contest
Synonyms
  • bomb

    British informal term for a similar pool jump; 'bomb' often implies landing flat rather than tucked

Usage Note

Most common in informal poolside or beach contexts. The word can be used for the jump itself ('do a cannonball') or for the body position assumed during the jump.

cannonball — verb

IPA/ˈkæn.ən.bɔːl/
KK[kˈænənbˌɔl]IPA/ˈkæn.ən.bɑːl/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All four words describe ways of jumping into water, but they differ in body position and result. A 'cannonball' means jumping with arms wrapped around the knees, forming a ball shape to create a big splash — it is playful and popular at pools. A 'bomb' (chiefly British) is similar but often implies landing flat on the back or stomach to make a loud noise; it is more about impact sound. A 'belly flop' is an accidental or painful flat landing on the stomach — it is not something people do on purpose for fun. A 'swan dive' is the opposite: arms outstretched, body straight, entering the water cleanly with minimal splash; it requires practice and is considered elegant. For example, a child at a pool party might say, 'Watch me do a cannonball!' while a competitive diver would perform a swan dive during a meet.

cannonball ↗bomb (jump)belly flopswan dive

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • like a cannonball

Prepositions

Etymology

Old ItalianLatinFrenchOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'cannonball' combines 'cannon' (from Old Italian 'cannone', meaning 'large tube') and 'ball' (from Old English 'bealla', meaning 'round object'). The literal meaning — a round projectile fired from a cannon — dates from the 1600s. By the 1800s, the word was used figuratively for anything moving very fast. The swimming jump sense appeared in the mid-1900s, and the verb forms followed in the late 1900s, as people began using the noun as a verb to describe the action.