HOWITZER

mortar, howitzer, trench mortar

(noun) a muzzle-loading high-angle gun with a short barrel that fires shells at high elevations for a short range

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

howitzer (plural howitzers)

A cannon that combines certain characteristics of guns and mortars. The howitzer delivers projectiles with medium velocities, either by 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

(sports, rugby, ice hockey) A powerfully hit shot.

Source: Wiktionary

How"itz*er, n. Etym: [G. haubitze, formerly hauffnitz, Bohem. haufnice, orig., a sling.] (Mil.) (a) A gun so short that the projectile, which was hollow, could be put in its place by hand; a kind of mortar. [Obs.] (b) A short, light, largebore cannon, usually having a chamber of smaller diameter than the rest of the bore, and intended to throw large projectiles with comparatively small charges.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition