columbiad

See also: Columbiad

English

Etymology

From Columbia (“the United States”).The term was first used for a type of cannon employed at Fort Columbus on Governor's Island in New York in 1808. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

columbiad (plural columbiads)

  1. (military, historical) A form of cannon from the 19th century, mostly used for seacoast protection. It is a large-caliber, smoothbore, muzzle-loading cannon designed for launching shot or shells with heavy charges of powder, at both high and low angles of elevation.

See also

Further reading

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